This was written, and is still being written, for the lj comm xmouthonlegsx winter challenge. Thanks to jenl25 and warinbabylon for beta-reading services.


The Presidential Investiture was quite a spectacle. The very best part of it was its relative brevity. Tegan had a feeling that the reason was not a modest desire to minimize pomp, but rather a decision not to give any one Time Lord an overly swelled head by affording him the prolonged attention of his fellows. Tegan and Turlough had been outfitted Gallifreyan style, but still stood out like sore thumbs. Gallifreyans, Trions, and Terrans all looked outwardly similar. Somehow they were simply out of place: definitely alien. Turlough looked like a young prince in a dark robe with a splendid cloak of white bordered with Prydonian scarlet and orange.

Tegan's gown was even bolder in metallic red and copper, slashed with white. It had originally been paired with an dress coat of white with a high standing collar, but Tegan had looked at herself in the mirror and thought herself too short to carry it off. The soft draping of the dress was flattering. The neckline was low enough to expose her collarbones, and she'd seen Time Lords and Ladies glancing sidelong at the display of bare skin. She was showing more than anyone else in the room, her throat, and her bare arms. With typical contrariness, she idly wondered if she could find a bikini on the TARDIS. That would give them something to stare at.

Most of these Time Lords wore middle-aged faces. Tegan noticed right away that the women generally appeared younger, and that there were fewer of them. There was not one among them that did not have the bearing of a queen. Tegan was glad she'd never been one to slouch about, but she doubted she looked anywhere near as regal.

The men looked like a collection of University presidents. Their authority had a distinctly intellectual cast; their faces spoke of disdain for youthful folly.

The Doctor by far had the most youthful appearance of all the male Time Lords. Only the guardsmen looked his age. Tegan had had to control a smirk at the sight of a contingent of them. With their shiny uniforms and flowing capes they looked like spacemen out of a Buck Rogers adventure serial. It was easier when she looked at their faces. No gung-ho space heroes there. They didn't actually all look alike but they resembled each other in their regular features and cold expressions. A collection of human soldiers of an equivalent age would be bored or eager or jaded or dedicated. Their bodies would have been more active, more muscular. These guards were lean and efficient in motion, but there was no liveliness in them. Maybe they were all one hundred years old or more, there was no telling here.

After the ceremony, there was the normal period of social politicking. Tegan wasn't expecting it, but Turlough murmured in her ear saying that this is where he would watch who talked to the Doctor and who didn't, and see who spoke together in groups. Even a group so controlled as the Time Lords would betray some information by simple association. These were public acts of recognition of status.

"You're really getting into this, aren't you?"

"I was trained to think like this, Tegan. If I can help the Doctor, isn't that a good thing?"

"Yes, yes, I know. But don't any of these people actually have friends?"

Turlough patted her shoulder. "Good question," he admitted, and wandered off to mingle, and watch.

"Doctor!" A female voice lifted, and the Time Lords glanced over their shoulders at the shocking breach of decorum. The Doctor smiled and went to greet the woman.

If she was a Time Lady, everything Tegan had deduced so far was wrong. Her brown hair was worn long and loose except for clips that gathered it away from her face. She wore a long reddish brown dress but she didn't glide. She strode forward, and the Doctor went to meet her with both hands offered and a delighted smile.

"Leela!" The Doctor took Leela's hands. "Thank you for coming. I'm so glad to see you again, and Andred."

Tegan moved closer. Andred was a fine specimen of young Gallifreyan manhood, tall with dark hair and eyes.

"We were watching from the gallery, Doctor. You are to be congratulated for ascending to the Presidency again."

"Must I be? Everyone else will, but you two should know how I feel about such things." The Doctor smiled disarmingly.

"Good. You have not changed within so much as you have without. It is a good face, Doctor, for speaking the truth. I do not think the High Council will like it so well."

"I'm not here to become popular. Now, though I do hope you will come visit… ah, Tegan, perfect timing. Leela, Andred, this is my friend Tegan. I hope you two might be kind enough to help her settle in on Gallifrey as I expect to make a prolonged stay." The Doctor drew Tegan to him. "Tegan, Leela used to travel with me, and Andred is, er, um–"

"He is my mate, Doctor." Leela's round blue eyes surveyed Tegan with candid interest. "You look well in the Doctor's colors. I am glad he brought his friend with him."

Andred was saying something aside to the Doctor about Gallifreyan formal relationships and legalities that Tegan didn't quite catch. "Thanks, Leela. There's me and Turlough. You can't miss him, the red haired party in the white cloak." She nodded towards Turlough.

"I must go deal with the High Council." The Doctor sounded resigned. "But don't let that stop you from enjoying yourselves."

"It won't," Tegan assured him with cheerful malice.

He departed and Tegan turned back to see Leela regarding her approvingly. "You are a good friend, to know how to speak to him. Is the boy your kin?"

"No, Turlough's from another planet than mine."

Andred was tall enough to easily gaze over their heads and over the heads of most of the crowd, even though most of them were wearing lofty collars. "Your friend appears to be comfortable in this venue. Perhaps we can meet him later." He smiled at Tegan. "You look lovely, Tegan, but a little lost, like a wild flower in a conservatory. You are from Terra's twentieth century reckoned by the Common Era, yes?"

"That's right. This is all a little overwhelming," she admitted.

Leela came closer. She was taller than Tegan, a rangy woman who looked like she spent a lot of time outdoors. "They are but flesh, and mortal, as it is with us, Tegan. The Doctor is the wisest of all here, and you know how foolish he can sometimes be for all his great wisdom."

"You got that right."

Andred chuckled. "We'll show you the Citadel. You need to know your way around."

They took her out and showed her the town–so to speak. This was not some random community of people as she would find at home. No one lived here who did not have a place in Gallifreyan society, even if all they were was a retired technician. It became apparent to Tegan that while she was obviously alien and out of place, Leela and Andred were somewhat out of place as well.

"So where do you two live?"

Andred answered, "I'm commander of the guard of the outer defenses of the Citadel. Leela and I have an apartment in the outer ring."

"So there is an outside? It's not only one big city?"

"Not all Gallifreyans live in the Citadel, but it houses a greater percentage of the planetary population than any other area."

"But aren't there, well, windows?" Tegan looked all around the austerely decorated public space with its carefully contained plant-life. Though the ceiling was a hundred feet high, there was nary a skylight to be seen.

"Not here. You're staying in the Presidential suite. It has a garden attached to it that is outside, though it's protected by a force screen. It is very peaceful and private. I think you will like it." Andred exchanged a glance with Leela.

They had explained how the basic amenities of life were obtained. Machinery, unobtrusive but all pervasive, provided at request necessities and small comforts. Leela had taken a moment when Andred was not present to tell Tegan that the bath chambers were equipped to handle the full range of female hygiene requirements. She'd been more blunt, of course, to Tegan's relief. She hadn't had time to explore the facilities yet.

"Ask the computer. The machine voice will tell you what you need to know about such things. Ask the Doctor if you must, but do not ask the Time Ladies. They already look down on you. They do not know women's secrets."

- o - O - o -

At the end of the tour, they'd stopped in a public eatery. It wasn't a restaurant or a pub. It was most like a sidewalk café, but without waiters or hostesses or cooks. All automated. A selection of food and drink was transmatted to their table. Tegan blessed her childhood spent on the edges of the Outback. She'd eaten bush tucker and these elegantly presented Gallifreyan nibblements were not a challenge.

"As long as the food comes to your table, you will not be offered anything that would disagree with normal human body chemistry." Andred added, "If you have special needs, you should make sure that the system is aware that you cannot tolerate certain foods, and it should all be handled without your having to think about it. That is how it should work."

Leela warned, "As long as you take care in whose company you eat. There are some who would think it a game to let you eat something you shouldn't."

Andred said rather stiffly, "Hopefully she will be given the respect that civilized people should afford the guest of their President."

Somehow Andred's reassurance failed to reassure Tegan, but the food was good.

They were nearly done with the meal when a young man approached.

"So here you are, Andred, with your savages. No offense meant! Most Gallifreyans are so dull that a little savagery can only improve life in this heap of antique dust." The speaker took up a nonchalant stance, leaning against the nearby wall. "Lady Leela, you are an ornament to this world as bright as the edge of your knife. And this beauty must be one of the companions of the infamous… er…. notorious… renegade–oh, dear. I mean, of course, our illustrious Lord President. Will he let himself be called Theta Sigma? I hope so, because 'Lord President Doctor' is simply too many titles for any one Time Lord."

The newcomer had sleek blond hair, lighter than the Doctor's, that curled on the nape of his neck. His eyes were a brilliant blue and he was startlingly good looking. Tegan busied herself with a bit of food to keep from staring. His smile was the broadest expression Tegan had seen on any Gallifreyan face save the Doctor's. For someone wearing a long grey robe bordered in heliotrope, he still managed to be butch. Perhaps it was due to the breadth of his shoulders, which Tegan couldn't help noticing.

"How you do run on, Keludar, yet you're still here," Andred said with ill-concealed displeasure.

"Indisputably. I'm standing right here. Would you like me to recite the appropriate equation describing our relative positions in 12 dimensions?"

Keludar had an attractive tenor voice. Tegan was still not looking. It would only encourage him to continue believing he was of interest.

Andred sighed. "Tegan Jovanka, allow me to present Keludar of the Patrexean Chapter, student, would-be Time Lord, and gadfly."

"You can only present me if she'll actually look at me, Andred. I perceive I am scorned." Keludar affected wistfulness.

Tegan looked straight at him. "I'll scorn you to your face if I want." Now that she was facing the conversation, she saw Leela watching Keludar with the remote consideration of a predator.

Andred simply looked annoyed, but he completed the introduction. "Keludar, this is Tegan Jovanka, friend of the Lord President and guest of the High Council."

Keludar tilted his handsome head to one side, surveying Tegan as Andred spoke. Then he bowed. "The Doctor should return to Gallifrey more often if he keeps bringing such jewels with him. Quick, let's start a petition to exile him again!"

His grin brought a sparkle to his eyes and Tegan could not resist laughing with him. "He'd probably thank you for it."

Andred was smiling, albeit reluctantly, but Leela frowned.

"Lady Leela, have I scandalized you again? Sadly you've never much cared for my wit."

"You speak with less sense than the wind that ruffles the dead leaves, Keludar, but at least you know how to smile." Leela had never taken her calm gaze off the man. Tegan figured he must have already have a Time Lord's ego not to be intimidated.

Keludar laughed again. "Those are the kindest words you've given me this decade, lady. I shall depart on the high tide of your favor. Andred, you are fortune's favored. Tegan, I am at your service." He smiled at her, bowed once more, and walked away.

Tegan blinked after him. "Well, he's different."

Andred shook his head. "There are a few like him about. The senior Academy students are under great stress as they prepare to qualify as Time Lords. In some it highlights the eccentricities of their characters."

"Does he talk like that to everyone or just primitives?"

"Everyone."

"No," said Leela. "He's interested in Tegan."

"But I thought–" For once in her life, Tegan saw disaster looming if she finished that sentence. She swallowed the words, then under their expectant gazes produced, "Wasn't he just taking the piss?"

Both of them blinked at her uncomprehendingly. Tegan did a quick rewind and corrected, "Making a joke of it, I mean."

"Ah, an idiom. Keludar does think himself witty. His friends seem to agree."

"Gallifrey is a whole world, an old world. There's more to it than Time Lords and guards and the laws of Rassilon. You'll see." Leela smiled at Tegan. "Do not fear. When I came here I was a savage, even the Doctor called me so. I do not think I have changed so much, and I have found a place here."

Tegan shrugged. "I'm only staying as long as the Doctor needs to clean up local politics. Come to think of it, that could be a good long while."

tbc