AU'S IT UP IN THIS

[notrory]

[It had been a while since Nina and Oswin had seen each other, but they never really lost contact with each other. Time passed and Oswin traveled while Nina stayed tied down to the same planet she always had been, at least until a very unusual urge came over her.

She was going to be spontaneous. She was going to stowaway on a starliner and find Oswin.

It was a ridiculous plan, and she was sure she was going to get caught, but somehow, it never happened. Oswin had been delighted to see her (of course, though Nina had worried all the same), but before they'd really had time to catch up with each other and reminisce of old times, all the emergency warnings went off.

Dragged onto a shuttle with Oswin, Nina was absolutely terrified. And after they crashed, it all went dark.

Now it was happening again, though there wasn't much left of Nina anymore. A year on this planet, and her consciousness had been trapped in a dalek, left to rot for eternity. When the Asylum began to burn, she didn't even care.

Her body lies motionless on the cold floor, pink hair a curtain across her face. Her breathing is slow, her face pale. It's Nina, but it isn't.]

Comments

[notrory]

[Luckily Nina doesn't have to face any nightmares tonight either. The both of them are too tired for anything but dreamless sleep, for which she'll be thankful for later.

In the morning, Nina's woken by a farmer prodding her with a pitchfork. She yelps, the farmer having picked a slightly burned patch of skin, and jerks awake.]

Watch it!

[makingsouffles]

[There's a soft groan from Oswin as Nina jerks away beside her, and she merely turns over, curling back up. She's still tired, after all, and really not a morning person. Never was.]

G'back to sleep, Nina… [She mumbles, entirely unaware of her surroundings.]

[notrory]

Os, you need to get up. [Nina's voice is terse and low as she stares at the clearly irritated farmer, sitting up with a bit of a wince.]

Listen, we...we were tired. She's hurt. We needed a place to stay and it seemed like it was the only place for miles...Sorry.

[makingsouffles]

[Wait, hang on, Nina's talking to someone. Oswin lifts her head, brushing straw from her hair and-

Oh. Damn, they've been caught. She glances around quickly, looking for a way out, because if Nina can't get this guy to back down, they'll probably need one.]

We'll just…go, if you like. [She quickly adds to Nina's statement, already inching towards the newrest available exit.]

[notrory]

[They at least get some good news from the less-than-pleased farmer, who informs them that there's a town only half a day's walk from the barn. He points them in the right direction and Nina babbles out apologies and thanks, wincing as he decides to give her another firm prod to set them on their way.]

Ugh. Men.

[makingsouffles]

[Oswin has to smirk as Nina gets prodded, still brushing straw from her hair and utterly ruined dress.]

'Least he didn't get us arrested. [That would have been difficult. As they walk, she glances around, trying to spot anything even vaguely familiar.] Haven't landed anywhere close to home, looks like.

[She probably should have been more careful with the coordinates, but honestly, she'd been a bit too concerned with getting them out than where they'd end up.]

[notrory]

[Nina rolls her eyes, heading off in the indicated direction.]

No, it...doesn't look much like home.

[makingsouffles]

[She sighs faintly. It isn't often that Oswin's not ready to change right into the unknown, but at that moment, she's certain that she would, for the first time in a very long time, love to be home.

But, at least she's actually got a chance she will now. Her heart races every time she thinks about how close to actually dying she'd been. Dying all alone and now even in her proper body.]

Probably ought to find a phone or something once we're there. Might be close enough for someone to come and get us. [Or they could steal a car. That's always fun.]

[notrory]

We need to find out what planet we're on, first of all. [She laughs, rubbing the back of her head.]

...Never thought I'd say that.

[makingsouffles]

M'pretty sure I set it to Earth. [Oswin frowns thoughtfully.] Could be wrong, though, I didn't have much time to look.

[notrory]

Kind of looks like Earth. Like the pictures in the history books. [Nina snorts.]

[makingsouffles]

[Oswin wrinkles her nose.] Well. Considering we haven't really gone back in time, m'guessing a different planet's as good a guess as any.

[notrory]

[Nina sighs and looks around, pausing for a moment. She looks paler than she ought to, and tired.]

I just want to get somewhere.

[makingsouffles]

[She hesitates before slipping her hand into Nina's and squeezing as tight as she dares.]

We will. Promise. [Oswin offers her a faint smile.] Got you into this mess, yeah? Sort of makes sense I get you out.

[notrory]

[She hesitates a moment before nodding and squeezing her hand back lightly.]

All I wanted was a nice vacation. [Nina lets out a mirthless laugh.]

[makingsouffles]

…S'my fault you didn't get one. [Oswin was the one who'd taken the job on the Alaska. Maybe they wouldn't be in this mess if she'd waited for some other opportunity to travel.

It still hurts that she won't be able to again for a long while.] I'll make it up to you, yeah? See if we can't go somewhere when we get home. [Somewhere as Dalek-free as possible.]

[notrory]

You owe me a damn good date. I risked a lot getting on that stupid ship. [This time Nina's laughter is a little more genuine.]

At least we're together.

[makingsouffles]

What, you think I won't be able to give you one? [Hrmph.

She smiles a little more readily.] Can't imagine anyone else I'd rather be stuck with.

[notrory]

That's true, yeah. [She smiles and continues walking.] Could be worse.

[makingsouffles]

Definitely. [In fact, Oswin could name several ways in which it could be worse. They're both alive and human and generally unharmed, save for her hands. And, like Nina said, they're together.

They walk for several more hours, idly chatting before they make it to the town the farmer told them about. It's so weird, seeing civilization again, but in a good way. Squeezing Nina's hand, she releases it.]

Ask around, yeah? I'll see about money. [There's got to be something she can hack, right?]

[notrory]

Wait, Oswin...

[Nina's worry is written across her face as she grabs Oswin's wrist.] You aren't going to... steal from someone, are you?

[makingsouffles]

What? No!

[Not that she wouldn't resort to it, if things got bad enough.] 'Course not. M'just getting into out stuff from home.

[notrory]

[Nina relaxes and nods.] Alright, good. Just um...be safe.

[She lets go of her wrist, still looking desperately worried.]

[makingsouffles]

'Course I will. [Even Oswin's had enough of danger for awhile.

She pecks Nina on the cheek in farewell before heading off to find whatever passed for an ATM in this place.]

[notrory]

[She smiles slightly at the kiss and heads off in a different direction to find them a place to stay for a bit. God, she's exhausted...]