staircasetotheclouds | because we always need more fairytale aus

[Fairy tales are...really not what Oswin does. Her realm's the one of technology and computers, things she can physically touch and explain logically. Sure, she's definitely a dreamer, but her dreams are things she can do, not impossible or unattainable, and you can get she knows what she's going to do to get them. She's got no time to waste on magic and silly things that won't help her out.

But, there is one that makes her take pause sometimes, whenever she hears it repeated.

A man, older than time itself and yet young in his appearance, a man who hadn't grown old even as thousands and thousands of year passed. People said that he spirited people away at night, but never to harm them, only to take them to a magical world where they would stay with him for as long as they pleased, exploring and adventuring. But, they always left in the end and even when she was young and hearing the story for the first time, that always struck a rather melancholy chord with Oswin.

And now, for some reason, she finds herself thinking about it again, that story she hasn't properly heard in years. Perched in the windowsill in her nightgown and looking out at the countless stars in the sky she one day hopes to see much closer, Oswin lets her mind wander back to it for some reason or another.

Probably because part of her wishes it was real and there was some magic man ready to whisk her off to a place that's as far from here as possible. But, no. She's got to do things the old-fashioned way and that's that. No matter how much she wants to change that, there's not a lot of getting past it.

If only there was.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

mrcool

[It takes the Doctor a long time to recover after he loses his friends.

They always leave. It's inevitable. Neverland is a magical place where time stands still and aging doesn't happen, but eventually, always inevitable, his hand-picked companions leave. Most of the time, they choose it. They want to grow up, live normal lives again, be human. He can't blame them. If anything, he envies them. And he misses them more than anything.

It's only because of Idris' urging that he decides to find someone else. Someone new. Young. With attitude. Someone who isn't afraid to put him in his place.

He stands in front of a modern London flat and considers for a few moments before ringing the bell.]

From:

makingsouffles

[She doesn't notice the bell ringing at first, too wrapped up in her own thoughts to be paying attention to what's going on outside her own head. Once it rings again, though, she looks over her shoulder, frowning slightly.

Blimey, who's decided to come over at this hour?

It's probably Nina, Oswin figures as she gets up and heads to the door. And she wouldn't really mind the company, especially on a night like this. However, instead of being greeted by the sight of her girlfriend when she opens the door, there's someone else standing there. A man she's never seen before in her life.

She blinks.] ...Hello. [There's a slight questioning note to her tone, because this really isn't what she expected to find on the other side of her doorway.]

From:

mrcool

Ah, hello!

[A girl again. Always girls. What is it with Idris' picks lately? Not that he'll complain. She knows better than he does.

The Doctor pushes his way inside and looks around.]

Oh, not bad, not bad at all. Do you like to travel?

From:

makingsouffles

What-Oi!

[Being as small as she is, Oswin's easily pushed aside as she stares with incredulous anger after the man who's just invited himself in.] Sorry, who are you?

From:

mrcool

[He turns around to face her, looking genuinely surprised.]

I'm the Doctor of course! Haven't you been waiting for me? Idris said you were.

From:

makingsouffles

Who? [Sorry, Doctor, the story didn't actually give you a name. Oswin looks him up and down skeptically, arms crossed over her chest.

Her eyes narrow faintly.] The only thing I'm waiting for is a better explanation than that. 'Cause I've got no idea what you're talking about.

From:

mrcool

[The Doctor sighs dramatically and looks down into his pocket. A fairy zooms out, slim with dark, curly hair and a blue dress.]

Idris. I thought you said this was the right place!

[The fairy speaks in a voice of bells, and she looks quite put out at the Doctor doubting her. She lands on his shoulder and gives him what appears to be a considerable scolding.]

From:

makingsouffles

[She starts back in surprise, her lips only just mouthing what? as she stares at the tiny little person perched on the Doctor's shoulder.

It's got to be a hologram or an AI or something. There can't just be someone or something that small unless...

...unless they're from another planet.

Oswin almost has to remember to be indignant and quell her curiosity.] I'm still here! [And he hasn't given her anything close to an explanation.]

From:

mrcool

[Once the Doctor is suitably cowed, Idris quits her tirade and just stands on his shoulder looking huffy and indignant, little arms folded over her chest and her bluish wings fluttering slightly.

He looks back at Oswin and shakes his head.]

I'm not lost this time. It's supposed to be you.

From:

makingsouffles

[It's probably just a bit comical how similar Oswin and the little woman look, in demeanor and attitude, that it. She fixes him with her best irritated scowl.]

What is? [Oswin snaps out, trying not to make it appear that some small part of her is a little intrigued.]

From:

mrcool

Well... [He blinks.] Don't you want to come with me?

From:

makingsouffles

Oh right, yeah. S'what I do every night, go off with random blokes that break into my flat.

[She thinks her glaring looks intimidating, but it's really kind of adorable.]

From:

mrcool

Wha-- [Oh, this isn't going well. He glances helplessly to Idris. She just motions for him to continue talking, looking rather smug.]

But I'm the Doctor! You know...with the dimensionally transcendant pockets and a fairy for a girlfriend and... [SIGH]

Look younger than I am? Time doesn't do anything to me? This must ring a bell.

From:

makingsouffles

That's a story. [One that Oswin's not about to get her hopes up's real. Mostly because she's not willing to be let down.

She tilts her head.] So, what, is someone having a go at me? This is some stupid joke, yeah? Someone thought it'd be funny to try and make someone think all of that stuff is true.

From:

mrcool

Does she look like a joke to you? [He scoops Idris into his palm, holding it out towards Oswin.] She's not a trick. She's real.

From:

makingsouffles

...People can make stuff like that, easy. [Oswin tries to turn her head away, arms still folded, but her eyes end up wandering back to the tiny person sitting in his palm. She does look real and solid enough, but she's not believing it. Not yet.]

From:

mrcool

[The Doctor rolls his eyes and Idris lets out an offended little sound, turning her back on Oswin.]

Could you at least try to respect her feelings?

From:

makingsouffles

[Despite her feelings on the current situation, Oswin feels the edge of her lips briefly twitching up.]

...Sorry. [She's just humoring him. That's it.]

From:

mrcool

[He raises an eyebrow at Idris, but she shakes her head and says something in her bell language. The Doctor looks back at Oswin.]

She says your apology wasn't sincere enough.

From:

makingsouffles

[Huff.]

What does she want from me, then?

From:

mrcool

A more sincere apology, obviously. And for you to stop being so difficult.

[He laughs.] Sort of funny, coming from her...

From:

makingsouffles

Difficult? [She scowls.] You're the one that's not telling me what the hell's going on!

From:

mrcool

[SIGH, and he mutters something that sounds distinctly like 'humans'.]

Idris, could you get the door please?

[The little fairy gives him a look and rolls her eyes, but then she's up in the air again, gathering something that looks like silvery sand in her palms. She lets out a breath, sending the glittery stuff sparkling across the room. The world seems to shift and blur at the edges at that spot until a single blue door appears.]

Go on. See what's out there.

From:

makingsouffles

[For a moment, all Oswin can do is stare as the door shimmers into existence. A door. In the middle of her flat. For a moment, she entertains the idea of reaching out and touching it to see just if it's real, but no. Not yet.

Instead, she turns around to face him.] You're supposed to fly. That's what all the stories say, yeah? [Obviously undeniable proof that this is a trick.]