moooore wonderland au

[makingsouffles]

[Oswin's not really sure how long she's been here. Days at least, because she quite clearly remembers stretching out on a ground softer than any bed she'd ever encountered to sleep under the stars when she absolutely had to, with the Doctor by her side. But then again, she's not really sure she cares how long it's been. This place is absolutely perfect, beautiful and lush and ever-changing. What could be out there that's better than in here?

She and the Doctor spend their days exploring Wonderland, this world that the TARDIS has created all for him. Maybe she thinks they can't stay forever, but Oswin's not too sure. She'd like to, definitely, to spend the rest of her life exploring this land with the Doctor, without having to worry about anything besides where they're going next.

But, they can't. And it's the TARDIS that knows this best. The universe needs the Doctor, and the Doctor needs his companion. And both of them need to leave at some point.

But, the Doctor needs his memories back first, which is why she leads him and Oswin to a darker part of Wonderland, the Tulgey Wood. As they stand before it, Oswin squeezes the Doctor's hand tightly, her gaze involuntarily raising to the sky, which has begun to cloud.]

...Onward, then? [Not that they have much of a choice, if those clouds are anything to go by.]

Comments

[mrcool]

[There's a part of him that knows where they've been heading, but he's been pushing it from his mind, not wanting to think about it or accept it. He doesn't want to go there, not at all.

He knows what waits there.

So when they stand on the edge of the wood and Oswin squeezes his hand, the look he gives her is horribly afraid.]

I don't want to.

[makingsouffles]

[They've both known, Oswin figures. Known that they can't just wander forever and something has to happen. But she doesn't want it to happen, she doesn't want him to know.

She likes it better when he doesn't remember. That way she can pretend it didn't happen.]

...Have we got a choice? [Her voice is soft as her fingers grip his tightly. This could be the last bit of time Oswin spends with him like this, who knows how he'll react to knowing? Especially in this state.]

[mrcool]

[He takes a deep breath, squeezing her hand and shaking his head no. The Doctor doesn't want to go through all of this again, not again. He's already tried to escape it once.]

Stay with me?

[makingsouffles]

[She swallows, looking from the Doctor to the entrance to the dark woods. After a moment, Oswin nods quietly.

As long as you want me.]

[mrcool]

[The Doctor takes another deep breath and nods again.]

Geronimo.

[He smiles, just a little, and steps forward into the dark woods.]

[makingsouffles]

[Very faintly, Oswin returns his smile, following him into the trees and down the dark pathway.]

...Awfully quiet. [Which probably means something bad, but really, she just wants to fill the silence.]

[mrcool]

[He nods.]

It's empty.

[makingsouffles]

Feels it.

[And like her words are just being swallowed up by the overwhelming silence. A breeze rustles the dead leaves that somehow haven't fallen and Oswin shivers faintly, the Doctor's hand still held fast in hers.]

[mrcool]

It is. [It's one of the Doctor's greatest fears, emptiness. Death. Loneliness. He swallows.]

[makingsouffles]

[Oswin can feel it, the overwhelming loneliness and fear. Probably because she's felt it before, stuck going mad in her tiny little pod. Maybe it hadn't been properly real, but that didn't mean she hadn't felt it all, every single day she spent shut away on a planet full of monsters.

There's a lump building her in throat that she swallows with just a little difficulty.] ...We could go back. [No, they can't.]

[mrcool]

No. [He shakes his head violently. He has to do this, even if each step is a struggle.

The Doctor has to stop, leaning against a dark skinned tree and struggling to catch his breath. It feels like a weight is pressing in on him, making it hard to move and breathe.]

[makingsouffles]

Doctor-!

[Oswin's right by his side, casting a quick glance to the sky. Oh god it's started and she can't stop it now, she just has to wait it out. Wait until the forest's and the TARDIS' influence is complete.]

[mrcool]

[He reaches out for her, taking a handful of her sleeve and holding it tightly.] Can't breathe...

[It's like he can't get enough air. He suddenly recognizes a smell, heavy and permeating the air. Coppery and thick.

Blood.]

Someone...I think something's coming...

[makingsouffles]

[Without thinking, Oswin pulls him into her arms, trying not to panic. Which is hard, given the distinctly metallic tang to the scent all around them.]

Right. [She keeps her voice low, glancing around.] Better get out of here then, come on. [She gives his sleeve a little tug, hoping to at least get a head start on whatever's coming for them.]

[mrcool]

[He tries to block out that terrible scent with Oswin's, burying his face in her shoulder and breathing in deeply, but it doesn't seem to help.

He can't do this.

There's nowhere to go, but he trusts blindly in her, nodding and slipping his hand back into hers.]

They'll find us.

[makingsouffles]

Not if I can help it.

[Oswin's response is as fierce as she can make it, given the circumstances. Impressively so, even.

Squeezing the Doctor's hand, she pulls him into the trees off the path, weaving through them in a pattern that hopefully won't be easy to follow.]

[mrcool]

[He follows after her, but he looks back nervously. They can try to escape, but it won't work. He knows it won't.]

He can find me. He can feel me.

[makingsouffles]

[Oswin shakes her head. Whoever the hell this he is, the Doctor has one thing he doesn't. Her.

Inwardly, her mind is racing. Why the hell would the TARDIS allow anything that wanted to hurt the Doctor in here, anything that could make him this scared? Was it something that had gotten in? Something from the outside world, taking advantage of the Doctor's weakened mindset. It does make sense.

She pulls him along, racing through the forest and away from the path. It's safer in the deeper woods, where no one can find them.]

[mrcool]

[The Doctor needs to face his fears, and the TARDIS is trying to get him to do so. He can't really be hurt by something here, not when most everything is literally a projection of his own imagination, not emotionally, anyway.

He stays close, but when he glances behind, it's to shapes following them.]

Oswin...

[makingsouffles]

[She turns, and it finally hits her that it's too late now. Skidding to a halt, she grabs a fallen branch, brandishing it threateningly towards whatever's coming.]

Keep back! [Maybe she doesn't exactly look intimidating by anyone's standards, but at least it's something to keep Oswin from feeling completely helpless.]

wow i meant "physically" not "emotionally" in that last tag

[mrcool]

[The Doctor swallows as a figure steps out of the shadows and where they can see him. It's an exact replica of the Doctor, completely alike physically but for the metal implanted across half his face, streaking in circuit-like patterns across his skin. The real Doctor steps forward, protecting Oswin, and the metal one speaks.]

Well well, we've been wondering when you'd have the courage to face us. [He speaks in a cold, sneering voice, and behind him, tin soldiers near overgrown with ivy step out into view.]

shhh you're good

[makingsouffles]

[Her eyes widen briefly, but Oswin regains herself easily enough and even manages to look somewhat put off as the Doctor steps forward to shield her.

She peers around him, watching this other Doctor with a wary eye and bristling. Because if there's one thing Oswin does when she's backed into a corner, it's bite.] Who the hell're you supposed to be, his evil twin? [She gives the air of being singly unimpressed, but on the inside, her heart is hammering.]

[mrcool]

[The Doctor says nothing, biting his lip and looking down. The other Doctor, however, laughs, coldly and mirthlessly, at Oswin's comment.]

I see you have another pet. All bark and not much bite. [He fixes his cold stare on Oswin.] I am him, silly human. Only better. You can call me Mister Clever.

[makingsouffles]

[She sneers.] I'll show you bite. [Oswin still has her branch and she'd be tempted to take a swing at him if the Doctor still wasn't in the way.

Her eyebrows raise as he gives his name.] Really? That's what we're going for, Mister Clever? Think you might've been a little more subtle there, dear.

[mrcool]

[Mr. Clever doesn't seem to like that and gives her a hard glare, before gesturing for the tin soldiers to surround them.] The Red King will want to see you, I'm sure.

[The Doctor doesn't argue. He glances back at Oswin and gives a tiny shrug of his shoulders, hoping that will get her to stop putting up so much of a fight.]