staircasetotheclouds | (no subject)

(no subject)

[It's not exactly common, stuff ending up in the Vortex, but there are times when certain objects manage to slip through little holes in time and end up floating in time itself. So, when Oswin heads into the console room only to see a messy stack of letters caught in the TARDIS doors, she's not extremely surprised. Curious, more like, as is her perogative. Which is why it doesn't take long for her to pull them free and flip through a few of the tattered envelopes. Some of the writing is faded and old, but all the envelopes have one thing in common.

They're all addressed to her.

Frowning, Oswin settles down on the jumpseat, hesitating before ripping one of them open and reading through the contents of the letter. And another. And another. And another.

In just a few minutes, she's surrounded by empty, torn-up envelopes, one hand pressed to her mouth has she reads the final one. Inhaling softly, she closes her eyes and wills her tears to stop welling up. Her hand trembles and Oswin sets the letter aside with the others, trying to compose herself.]

...Doctor? [Chances are, he's underneath the console, working on the TARDIS. If not, she can go and find him.

There's somewhere she needs to go.]

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[He's exactly where he normally is, working beneath the console. He spends a lot of time under here, murmuring to his old girl sometimes in the hopes that he'll hear her respond.

He's gone a little batty these days. As if he wasn't already before.

The Doctor peers up at Oswin's voice, looking up through the grating.]

Yo! Oooh. No. Remind me to never say that again. Anyway! What is it?

[She would have normally laughed and even winced, but with what she's just read, Oswin can barely manage a faint smile. And the ability to keep her voice from shaking.]

..D'you mind if I pop back home for a bit? There's someone I've got to check on. [And something she needs to tell her.]

[The Doctor's immediately knowing something is up. Usually Oswin laughs when he makes those stupid comments, but there's no laugh and her voice sounds...off. Taking off his goggles, he looks back up through the grating.]

...Is everything alright?

Fine. [She bends to pick up the shells of envelopes that have fallen to the ground around her feet.] Just want to check up on someone's all. Let them know I'm okay.

[Oswin's visited her family already, of course, but Nina hadn't been there when she went and they hadn't known where she was. Their response had been casual enough to put Oswin at ease, but...well. These letters proved her wrong there.]

Right.

[He doesn't believe you, Oswin. Still, he unhooks himself from all his wires and the little swing thing he built himself, thank you very much~. Heading up the stairs to the actual console, he gives her a small smile.]

Back home?

[Standing up, Oswin clutches the letters to her chest, offering the Doctor what hopefully passes for a faint smile.]

Please.

[He nods, starting to set in date and location. The TARDIS will pinpoint exactly where they want to go; she always does. The Doctor casts the letters a curious look as the TARDIS takes off into the Vortex.]

Where did you find those?

Stuck in the door. [A shrug.

Her gaze flickers down to the floor.] ...They're mine. From my girlfriend. [Oswin clutches the letters a little more tightly to her heart.] Must've fallen into the Vortex, they're...she sent them while I was gone.

[Her voice catches, but she ignores it. Hopefully he'll do the same.]

[Ah. Love letters. He thinks he understands now, at least sort of. Relationships aren't exactly his strong suit.]

I didn't know you had a girlfriend.

[Well, not exactly love letters in the traditional sense.]

Her name's Nina. [She smiles just a bit, but it fades quickly.] ...She thought I left her. That I didn't... [Oswin can't even say it.]

...I've got to see her.

Well you did sort of leave her. I mean, took off on a ship, never to return, and then you found me--

[There's a little warning sound from the TARDIS and he trails off.]

...I'm not helping, am I?

Not really.

[Her grip on the letters tightens and Oswin's silent for a few moments, looking at the floor.] ...I would've gone back.

Sorry, I forget those things.

[He nods a little awkwardly and the TARDIS lands.] Let's go, then.

Right.

[She looks over towards the door, setting the letters aside. Oswin's got no idea what she's going to say or do, but...well. Leaving Nina isn't an option, not after those letters.

Reaching over, she briefly squeezes the Doctor's hand before heading over to the door and pushing it open.]

[He hesitates a moment, looking at her with some worry.]

...Do you want me to stay?

[Oswin pauses in the doorway, looking back at him.]

D'you mind? [She smiles faintly] Won't be long. Promise.

Not at all. [The Doctor nods thoughtfully.]

Relationships aren't my thing.

[She gives him a slightly more ready smile.]

Back in a mo'. [Pausing to collect herself, Oswin heads outside to wherever the TARDIS has landed them.]

[He waves, a little uncomfortable as she walks off.

He has a bad feeling about all this.]

[Minutes tick by and Oswin doesn't return, not just yet. The TARDIS has landed them in the burnt remains of what was probably an old building and, if the Doctor cares to check on her when she doesn't come back, he'll find Oswin kneeling in the center of it all and staring blankly at the sapling of a cherry tree.]

[He waits for a while, but he grows impatient and he just knows something isn't quite right.

Finally his impatience wears out and the Doctor pushes the door open. The burnt out wreck of an apartment building immediately sets off warning bells in the back of his mind, and he finds Oswin kneeling there. The little sapling means something.

Quietly, he kneels beside her and puts an arm around her shoulders.]

[She stiffens at his touch, but once she realizes who it is beside her, Oswin finally looks away, burying her face in his shoulder. There's silence for a long moment as she attempts to contain herself enough to speak.]

...She's gone. [Her voice is hoarse, a choked and quiet whisper, as Oswin holds back her tears. It's almost instinct, by now, not to cry, but it's hard.]

Shhh... [Oh, he knows that reaction. He knows that face and he knows exactly what it means. She leans into him and he holds her close, stroking her hair lightly.]

I'm so sorry, Oswin. I'm sorry.

[She wraps her arms around his neck and finally lets herself go, sobbing into his shoulder. Her fingers bury themselves in the fabric of his jacket as she clings tightly, her shoulders shaking.

It's a long time before she cries herself out and even after that, she just stays curled up in his arms, cheeks wet with tears.]

[The Doctor holds her close, murmuring reassuring words and running a hand along her back. He understands grief well, he's experienced it himself and he knows how bad it can be. So he just lets her cry herself out, holds her close and kisses the top of her head.]