Author's Note: It's official. Koschei has once again commandeered my brain.

Disclaimer: Doctor Who doesn't belong to me. Sad panda.

Re-take?

Koschei licked his finger and turned the page of Theta's copy of The Collected Works of Jules Verne. Well, Theta's borrowed copy of the book. Thus far, the Museum of Alien Antiquities hadn't missed it. It was only a matter of time, of course. Koschei smiled. Everything was only a matter of time when one was a Time Lord. He couldn't wait to be formally endowed with that title and all the privileges that went with it. He planned on inducing regeneration almost immediately, if only as an experiment, to see just what it was like. What's one life when he'd have twelve more?

Theta skulked into the study room. He raised an eyebrow at Koschei's feet propped up on the desk. Koschei did his level best to appear innocent, but did not move his feet. Theta plopped into the chair across from his friend and dropped his head into his hands. His usually immaculate hair was a mess as he ran his fingers through it agitatedly.

"Problem?" Koschei asked, still reading.

Theta mumbled something incoherent.

"You what?"

Theta looked up, distress lining his face. "I failed," he half-whispered, half-wailed. "I failed TARDIS Flight. What is wrong with me? It's one of my favorite classes!"

"What happened? You studied for it, didn't you?" He licked his finger again to turn another page. Then he frowned and raised his gaze. "You didn't argue with the professor about the TARDIS Manual again, did you?"

Theta grimaced. "…Yes. But the Manual was wrong about—"

Koschei clicked his tongue in mock disapproval. "Theta, Theta. That's where you made your mistake. Didn't you know? The Manual is infallible."

Theta blew out a sigh. "I just can't keep my mouth shut, can I?"

"Not when it's good for you, no," Koschei deadpanned, continuing his reading.

"That was rhetorical!"

The corners of Koschei's lips curled up. "That nicely proves the point, don't you think?"

Theta let his head drop onto the desk in front of him.

"Sulking doesn't suit you," Koschei chided.

"Oh shut up. Are you done with that book yet?"

"Just about. Why? Getting nervous about your stolen property?"

Theta sat up straight, eyes wide. "Seriously, shut it. What if someone hears you?"

"Then it's your head and not mine." Koschei smiled sweetly.

"You're reading the book, though!"

"Is reading a crime now? Honestly, Theta, no wonder you're a failure."

"It's fine." Theta sounded as though he meant to convince himself rather than Koschei. "There's always the re-take."

"She doesn't allow re-takes, the professor of TARDIS Flight," Koschei informed him, his eyes fixed on the last page of The Collected Works of Jules Verne.

"You're joking," Theta squawked.

"She did tell us at the beginning of the term, or were you not paying attention?"

Theta's mouth dropped open. He closed it with an audible snap. He looked like a child with a broken toy.

"Don't cry, my dear Theta," Koschei teased. "Time and space travel is overrated."

Theta groaned.