The Return

[nevermindtherunning]

Who: the Doctor, open
Where: the edge of the woods, by the ocean side. Southwest of the island
When: Day 34
What: The Doctor returns, and is surprised to find himself in a somewhat familiar location.

At first there were echoes of crashing waves in the distance, growing louder and more distinct when the Doctor finally opens his eyes. Odd... I don't remember landing-- He startles, sitting up only to feel something on his wrist and he quickly recognizes the communicator.

"I've been here before." But he didn't remember how he had left or how he had returned. Nor did he remember any events up to this point, as if his memory had been tampered. Resting his elbows on his knees, he sat there looking around before running hands through his hair.

After a while, he taps on the communicator, sending out a video to the network, "Hi! Hello! Anyone out there?"

Comments

[primogen_vampirate]

Sometimes, looking good was better than feeling good. And Mina looked marvelous. She was wearing a ring on each finger and her favorite three piece suit. Her fedora was dipping down over one eye at a jaunty angle and she was swinging her arms as she strolled. These walks were one of her indulgences, a respite from the unending misery of the nightly grind Cape Kore had doled out to her. She served no purpose in this place, save for babysitting a bevy of baby vampires and their pet mage.

This was not how it was supposed to be.

But she whistled a sea shanty and smiled as she went, giving every impression of being perfectly content.

Although the whistling stopped when she heard someone calling out. "Nobody here but us chickens," she replied.

[nevermindtherunning]

Mouth agap, the Doctor looks around before seeing someone in the near distance. Quite an elaborately dressed woman if he ever see did one. Well, he actually had seen plenty! But none on his short time being here once before.

"At least we won't starve then." He replied out, realizing his joke was rather lame as he moved to his feet to come greet her.

"Erm, how long have you been here?" So much for proper greeting. His mind was too focused on the hows and whys right now.

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina liked dapper men and she liked practical people. True, there was something to be said for ostentation, but there was equally a need for survival instinct. And it wasn't like they were meeting at some sort of social gathering, really.

Needless to say, the stranger had made a good first impression.

"A little over a month," she replied. "The days tend to bleed into one another."

[nevermindtherunning]

"Over a month?" He pauses, looking around him, and then finally shrugs. "I was here before... but I don't remember how I escaped or how I got back. I don't really remember much of anything." It was a foreign concept to him, especially given his 900+ age, but perhaps senility was catching up to him.

He looks disappointed for a moment, then looks back to Mina, "Lovely outfit. Any particular occasion?"

[primogen_vampirate]

"Going out is always an occasion."

She paused, openly scrutinizing him for a moment. Here and gone? No memory? There seemed to be a bit of that going around. She didn't recognize him. Nor had she caught any video footage of him being dragged off by scientists. But then, she couldn't very well limit everything she encountered in life to her own experience now. Could she?

Neatly, Mina tucked her hands into her pockets. "Would you mind if I had a look at you? I'm a doctor. Or, well, was one anyway. Until my delightful neighbors here decided my services were no longer required."

[nevermindtherunning]

He grins, almost manically so, teeth showing and wide. "A doctor?" Oh that was ironic, wasn't it? "No, that sounds alright, I suppose... Although, how do I know I can trust you?" He already did, and was often told he was too trusting, but what better options did he have at this point?

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina smirked a little bit. "You don't," she replied, looping her thumbs through her pockets and tapping her fingers, lightly, against her trousers. "For all you know, I could be a homicidal maniac. Or worse. A politician. On the other hand, I could be something extraordinary. An angel of the Lord. They're quite common around here. Or a demi-god."

She shrugged. "Or I might just be a doctor."

[nevermindtherunning]

"Don't particularly care for politicians." Especially after the year that never was and how the Master flew completely under his radar. He still never quite got over the blaming of himself for that.

"Angels and demi-gods?" Boy had things just got more interesting. "Could be interesting." He commented, knowing he still remained the only Time Lord.

[happytobleed]

Castiel stumbled out from behind a tree, looking worse for wear. He was covered in bruises and scrapes.

"You need to take cover. They won't hesitate to hurt you." He didn't recognize this man, but then he hadn't been paying the best attention. He'd been far too busy running and dodging and he was lucky to still be alive, wasn't he?

[primogen_vampirate]

"Interesting is a diplomatic word, my friend," Mina replied, still grinning like the Cheshire Cat. "I've heard any number of alternatives. 'Horrifying' and 'exciting' and 'disastrous.' I myself prefer 'dull,' but that's just me and my bad temperament."

She held out a hand to him. "Mina. Doctor Mina Barrett. Chicago, 1932."

[nevermindtherunning]

"They're not all bad... and not all powerful. Just very good with words, and that can be very dangerous." He had met his quota of Gods of varying degree over the years.

"I'm the Doctor." He takes her hand and shakes.

[nevermindtherunning]

"Who?" The Doctor got to his feet quickly, looking around himself and this weather-worn man in front of him. Nothing seemed out of place just yet, and anyway, how long had he been there himself?

[primogen_vampirate]

Another doctor? Well, that was good, she supposed. If the citizens of Cape Kore didn't want her treating them, it would be good for Banner to have some back-up. Perhaps the oversexed, alpha male pricks of the village would find her new, dapper friend more to their liking.

After all, he was male.

Mina gave him a firm handshake, before pulling back to avoid any awkward questions about her body temperature or lack of pulse. "Doctor Who?" she asked.

[nevermindtherunning]

He grins, "Just the Doctor." That question never got, did it? He did notice her cold touch, but given it was a bit chilly here, didn't think anything of it.

"Now, what exactly do you want to look at? My vision is perfect, though I do quite like my brainy-specs!" He patted his pocket before pulling out his glasses and slipping them on, "I think they're brilliant!"

He continues to ramble on about odds and ends. He'll wait for her to take a listen to his chest later to make a comment on his double hearts and strange pulse. Surprises were sometimes fun. "Going to take me to a scary lab?"

[primogen_vampirate]

To her credit, Mina took it all in stride. She was used to eccentric characters. After all, she was a bloody pirate. And a Kindred. Hell, there had been a woman in her last Court who only went by the name 'Doctor M.' And another called 'Sunny.' Having a noun or an adjective for a name was hardly the strangest thing she'd ever encountered.

"Afraid I've been booted from the clinic," she replied with an irritable sigh. "But I have my kit back at number 18, if you don't mind a bit of a stroll. You do seem to be," she looked him up and down, "in working order."

A pause. "And the spectacles are rather dapper."

[nevermindtherunning]

"Thank you!" He chirped excitedly as he followed her. "Why were you booted out of your clinic? Not very nice..." He commented.

Lucky for them, it didn't take too long to reach the building marked 18 outside the door. "Looks like nothing has changed." He commented as he looked at the buildings in the distance. "I think I stayed in one down that way." He pointed eastward.

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina glanced over. "Oh, the house where Martha was?" she asked. Mina had liked Martha. A lot. She was mature. Intelligent. A doctor. And, most importantly, an independent female. Really, the ideal Valkyrie. For a human, anyway. She'd been awfully disappointed when Martha vanished.

She fished out her keys, opening the door. Really, she wasn't quite sure why they bothered to lock the place up. If someone wanted to rush in and kill them, they'd bloody well do it.

"This way."

[nevermindtherunning]

"You know Martha!?" He perks up at this thought, only to realize she said 'was'. He hadn't forgotten she didn't answer his question, but right now he was curious to know what had happened since he was last here.

"Is she gone?" He looks a bit sad, wondering if she's alright before finally stepping inside.

[primogen_vampirate]

"Disappeared," Mina replied. She wasn't one to sugar-coat things. Least of all for grown men. "A lot of people have disappeared around here. We're at a complete loss for what to do."

She sighed, betraying how frustrating she genuinely found it.

The inside of the house was dark, but Mina could see well enough. She led her new friend to the kitchen. It had, largely, been taken over by Jones. Which stood to reason, as she was the only one among them who ate. Mina, however, had claimed the table for herself. Not unreasonable, since there weren't family meals.

Sprawled out across the table were her books, her medical supplies, and a host of notes and sketches, detailing the things she'd encountered in Cape Kore so far.

[agentx13]

She doesn't want to answer. The loved ones she's been seeing haven't been real. She sees no reason to think the Doctor is real, either. And yet... If a version of Natasha had come back...

"Doctor?"

[shesamarshmallow]

"I'm here but where are you?" Veronica's voice is light and teasing, but also weird. She's been... seeing things. Things that can't possibly be real.

"You... look familiar. Why do you look familiar?"

[nevermindtherunning]

He sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I suppose as much." Being drawn inside, he looked around, but it was difficult to see anything until they entered the kitchen. Small, but adequate. It did the job, though, as he walked over to the table, fingers reaching out to trace along bookends and the table itself.

"So why were sacked? From the clinic, that is."

[nevermindtherunning]

"Sharon?" He recognized her immediately, as she was one of the first people he had met here, other than Elle and Martha. He liked her, she had a spark he couldn't deny.

Brushing his trousers off, he made his way over to her, "Kind of nice to see a familiar face." He smiles softly.

[nevermindtherunning]

"I was here before." He comments, but unfortunately, he couldn't place a name to her face. Wait, she was Elle, wasn't she? That angry blond spouting off incessant commentary.

But her mannerisms seemed quite different. "I'm sorry, what's your name?"

[happytobleed]

"The demons." Hellhounds. Crowley. It was everyone and scared as Castiel was in his current state, he couldn't let someone else get hurt in his place. "They're searching for me, but they aren't the most nonviolent group."