staircasetotheclouds

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[It's common, empaths and telepaths sharing dreams if they wind up sleeping close enough together and opening up their minds enough. Oswin's learned about it, of course, studied it briefly when she had to, but when it comes to her and the Doctor actually doing it...well. There's enough she keeps shut away to make her nervous about even him being too deeply inside her head. Whenever he's gone in before, he's never opened any doors she wants to stay shut, but when she's asleep, she won't have as much control over what stays where in her head.

And it's terrifying, to be honest.

But, they need it tonight. A particularly strenuous adventure's left them both a little world-weary, and at the Doctor's tentative suggestion, Oswin's finally agreed to let him in. Dreams, when they aren't nightmares or fabrications, can be surprisingly soothing, after all. Especially with someone to experience them with.

So, she'd tucked herself up in the Doctor's arms, soothed by his presence all around and in her head, and fallen asleep quickly enough, drifting into the realm of her own dreams. Empaths and telepaths have a certain degree of control over dreams like this with a bit of practice, enough to be conscious of it being a dream and able to remember things properly.

Oswin's dreamscape that she's made is absolutely gorgeous, a beach of pure white sand lit by an enormous, oddly iridescent moon in a sky filled with a million twinkling stars. It can change, of course, to whatever she likes, but this is the one she prefers out of all of them. Letting the waves lap at her feet, she stands and looks out over the water as she wrings her hands faintly, a nervous habit she's had for ages.

When she hears footsteps in the sand behind her, she smiles.]

Took you long enough.

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Fine by me.

[He slows when she does, a little out of breath as well. He could probably keep going like that for miles, honestly, but then he's had a lot of practice.

The Doctor flops down onto the sand, tugging her down with him.]

[Yes, well, we aren't all Time Lords, unfortunately.

Oswin happily joins him, her head pillowed comfortably on his chest. Funny how you can actually got worn out in a dream, but then again, it wasn't exactly a normal dream by any means.]

Didn't really think it'd be like this, this whole...dream thing. [Honestly, she hadn't known what to expect, given that most of her previous experience with dreams had been a bit dodgy. Or nightmare-y. Or both.]

[The Doctor's smile softens, and he trails his fingers through her hair just like he always does.]

It's sort of fun, isn't it?

[That draws a contented sigh out of her and Oswin closes her eyes, allowing herself to be lulled by the double heartbeat thrumming under her ear.]

Mm. [Her eyes open again to look up at the sky over their heads.] You've done it before?

Once or twice. [He shrugs absently.]

[It's a bit weird, knowing that she's not the first empath the Doctor's been bonded to. Most people aren't able to bear it, losing their other half. It's why Oswin was so reluctant to bond, for fear losing her telepath would drive her mad.

She settles a little more comfortably in the sand, resting a hand by her face and briefly nuzzling her cheek against his chest.] Not better than mine, though, yeah?

[Oswin's dreamscapes are the best dreamspaces and she will hear nothing else.]

You know me. [He smiles, pressing a kiss to her forehead.]

Yours are most definitely the best.

[She grins playfully.]

You're just saying that so I won't smack you.

Maybe just a little. [He gives her a gentle nudge.] What would you say to going to one of my dreamscapes?

[She grins, taking his hand and lacing their fingers together.]

I'd say, what're you waiting for, dear?

[He smiles, giving her hand a squeeze.] Close your eyes.

[Their dreamworld starts to drip away like melting chocolate, colors sliding slowly down the edges.]

[With one last glance up at the disappearing night sky, Oswin obeys, resting her head back down again and shutting her eyes lightly.]

[There's silence for a moment, then...]

Alright, you can open them now.

[The world has completely changed. This time they're sitting in a field of tall red grass on the peak of a mountain. The sky above is orange, the few trees bedecked with silver. And down in the valley is a magnificent city of gold and chrome.]

[Her eyelids flutter open immediately and Oswin sits up, eager to see where the Doctor's taken them. And she's not disappointed in the least, wherever this world it, it's beautiful. She exhales softly, taking the spectacular view of the domed city far below them.

Softly, her fingers squeeze the Doctor's.]

...Okay. You win. [Just this once.]

[He smiles back at her, looking rather nostalgic.]

This is Gallifrey, before the war. I spent most my childhood here in these fields. My best friend's family owned this land, on the slopes of Mount Perdition.

[He laughs softly, looking around.] And down there...do you see that part of the Citadel that's cordoned off? That's the Prydonian Academy, where I went to school. I failed out a few times before I finally graduated.

[The look she gives him is almost alarmed. Doesn't it hurt, being here? Call her a bit protective all you like, but Oswin's not really too fond of the notion of the Doctor being hurt, just to show her this place.

...But he seems okay. A bit nostalgic, but definitely not about to break down. Either way, she leans against his side a little as they look out towards the Citadel, and gives his shoulder a playful nudge.]

Can't imagine why.

[The Doctor laughs and looks back at her, nudging her right back.]

Believe it or not, I didn't actually like school at all. Too...boring. I already knew all of it.

And...well... [He looks a little sheepish.] I was too hungover to pay attention most the time.

You hungover? [Oswin raises an eyebrow, amusement glimmering in her eyes.] And here I thought you lot couldn't get drunk.

[In a tone that very much suggests that he's told her that before and now she's waiting for him to admit that he was wrong.]

[Whoops. He laughs, looking all the more sheepish.]

We can, yes. It just takes...a little bit of preparation, you know. Easing your system up to it. And it was easier when I was younger.

[Yeah he totally can, he's just making things up now.]

Right. [Look how convinced she is. This is the face of someone who is definitely convinced.

Of course, now she has to put this to the test at some point.] Should've figured you'd be out causing trouble, even back then.

I was a teenage rebel and that never changed.

[He grins at her, giving her a little nudge.] I miss those days. Blowing up the principal's office...that was fun.

Oh, I bet you were. [Oswin laughs, returning his grin.

She leans her head on his shoulder.] Y'know, if you're feeling nostalgic, we could always pop by some school somewhere for a bit, make something to drop off in some office.

[The Doctor laughs, wrapping an arm loosely around Oswin's shoulders.] Oh no, no no, I'll have you know we blew that up by accident.

Or. Well. You know. We claimed to.

[She settles comfortably against him, gazing out at the landscape below them.]

Right, sorry. We can accidentally pop by a school and accidentally make something to leave behind in an office. Accidentally.

You are absurdly cheerful sometimes.

[He kisses her cheek.] I love it.

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