Chapter 8: Puttin' on the Ritz
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight/ R. Davies et al, BBC Comm. own rights to Dr. Who
Doctor took me to a fancy shop for evening clothes. We passed by a rack of sleepwear, and he held up a black lace nightie. Wigglin' his eyebrows he said, "Blimey, this is totally inappropriate. Why don't you go try it on?"
"You wish."
He nodded, adding a whistle and a hiss.
I let out a huff, and grabbed the stupid thing, and just for the hell of it, I took it into the dressing room with me. It was definitely inappropriate and sexy as all get out. Geesh. When I got ready to exit the room, a bathing suit was passed over the top of the stall.
"This one as well."
I yelled through the door. "What are you a fashion consultant?"
"Nah, just a fan of pulchritude."
The suit fit like a glove. Not bad. He had great taste.
I heard him outside the stall, "All right?"
"They both fit, if that's what you're asking. Are ya happy now? "
"Just curious."
"Sure you are."
"And happy."
I slung the two outfits over my arm, then hung them up outside the dressing area. After parting with the two outfits, I left to search for an evening dress.
Doctor was already at the checkout counter; his purchases bagged. "Ah, there you are. Find anything?"
"Yeah." I handed the clerk a light-pink, slinky, number, some cosmetics, and a pair of white, high-heeled, strappy sandals, which she rang up speedily.
"I hope it didn't cost too much. I couldn't tell how expensive anything was. The tags were all in alienese."
"No matter." He waved the Galaxy 1 card at me. "I've got this."
. . . . .
When we arrived back at our room, Doctor emptied the bags onto the bed, and there were the clothes I had hung outside the dressing stall.
"Oh, gawd, you didn't."
"Oh, yes, I most certainly did. Anyway, it's not like I'm personally paying for all this. Live a little."
% % % % %
We got ready for our dinner, dressing in our new duds. Leah walked out of the bedroom in her finery, and I almost swallowed my tongue. I was feeling guilty as sin when I looked at Venus incarnate. I found myself comparing her to Rose … to all of my previous companions to be honest. It wasn't fair, Leah was dressed to the nines, and none of the others got that chance, except for Donna. I didn't feel anything for Donna, though. I secretly held a wee grudge against her for having the audacity to being a ginger and all. Petty of me.
When I finally got my vocal cords functioning again, I declared, "Moooolto beeeene, Miss Clearwater. I swear in the name of Gallifrey, you look positively smaaaaaashing!
"You cleaned up pretty good yourself, ET."
I offered her my arm, and we were off to Neptune's Table. Well, not actually ... the restaurant called, Neptune's Table.
Doctor had to interpret everything for me, including the meaning of the freakin' translation. What was a baked gundark anyway, or sautéed stocirts? As a caution, I let Doctor order whatever, and maybe it was better that I didn't really understand what I was eating. Ignorance in this case was bliss, and surprisingly, the food was excellent. My taste buds applauded.
I had absolutely no idea what was served for dessert, but I wished my mom had been here to get a taste. It was heavenly.
After dinner, we strolled along the platform, hand in hand. I caught him glancing at me several times, and yeah, I snuck a few peeks at him too. He was all decked out in a tux, and looked so handsome, it was sickening. The black, satin bow tie was the icing on the cake, but the shoes?
"I can't believe that you're wearing Converse with that tux."
He flexed his toes up and down, flaunting his defiance of style. "Show me in the fashion rules where it says what shoes have to accompany this monkey suit."
"That's not the point."
"Exactly. Some chap mindlessly decided upon the rules, and makes us slaves to them. Not me. I'll die in my Converse. By the way, fancy taking off those torture devices you're wearing? I'll carry them for you."
"My feet'll get dirty."
"I distinctly remember there being soap and water in our room."
I grimaced, thinking that a little dirt on my toes beat aching arches for the remainder of the night. I stopped, yanked off the offending heels, and handed them over to my chivalrous escort. He put each sandal in separate pockets of his jacket, and pointing to his shoes, said. "Converse. Comfort before fashion, I always say."
He looked down at my now shoeless feet. "See? Aren't your feet breathing a sigh of relief? Cute feet by the way." I shoved my shoulder against his, and he laughed.
"You win. My feet were killin' me."
We strolled along for another half hour, window shopping. The malls on earth could never live up to this place.
I noticed a shop that sold stationary, and asked Doctor, "Do you think we could go inside?"
"Something you'd like to get?"
"Um …"
"Oi, don't get all shy on me. You want something, speak up."
"I'd really like to buy a journal so I can write down all we did together. I don't ever want to forget a minute of this."
"Oh, Leah. You'll never forget me, or the fun we had. Well, maybe not all fun. We did have a bit of drama. But you do make a great point. Let's take pictures as well." He took out his cell phone, and flashed it before my eyes. "Nexus 14."
"Whoa. Wait a minute … There's no such thing."
"Not yet. It comes out in 2103. Fancy a selfie?"
Doctor gestured for me to stand by his side. We smiled and he snapped the photo. "There, maybe a scrapbook would be in order, unless of course, you put it on your iPad."
"Don't have one."
"Oh, weellll, I just may have some lying about in the TARDIS. If I remember where I put them. I really should try to keep better track of things. Or, maybe you could organize things for me. How about it? Would you?"
"Gah! It would take more than a year to catalog all your stuff."
"But think of all the interesting objects de arte you can come across. Anyway, what else have you got to do?"
"I have to be on my toes, to keep you outta trouble. That's what."
When we waked into the shop, the clerk ran up to us, clickin' her tongue a mile a minute in a peculiar alien language. She glared at me, and I backed up as her harangue blasted away in my face. Doctor answered her in the same dialect, making that weird clicking noise, then handed me my shoes.
"She says, No shoes; no service."
"Oh, for Gawd's sake," I muttered, slipping into the sandals.
I hurried and picked out a leather-bound journal and matching album. Doctor pointed out that they were actually covered in the skin of a wocbal, whatever the hell that was. Anyway, he paid for our purchases on the card, and abruptly, turned back. "Hold on … paper. This is a stationary store. I imagine they sell paper, oodles of it."
"Brilliant! You're a genius," I snarked.
Grabbing me by the shoulders, he spouted, "Now, don't go swanning off on me, eh? One jail-break has filled my quota for the day, so wait here. I'll be back in a tick."
I stood, staring out the front window, waiting while he trotted to the rear of the shop. He scooped up two reams, and paid for them.
As soon as we left the store, he said, "Let's have your shoes. We still have a ways to go to get to our room, and the TARDIS is parked out back."
% % % % %
On the way to the suite, I stopped off at the receptionist desk and talked to the clerk in Silurian.
"You certainly are a friendly guy," Leah declared.
"I do my best."
We no sooner reached the room, than the Malmooth housekeeper arrived with the extra blankets I requested from the receptionist.
"What's all this, ET? You're the tour guide. I'm just along for the company. We can both share the freakin' bed. I trust you. You're the Doctor."
"That trust can only stretch so far, and in this particular case, you probably shouldn't. Trust me, that is. Well, I'm not saying anything would happen, but you look decidedly attractive tonight, and despite my two hearts and alien composition, I'm still a man, and you are quite the woman."
Leah grinned at me. "Ha, the Doctor has the hots for me, huh?"
"Hold on … I didn't say that. I'm just being cautious. I wouldn't want any complications to interfere with our friendship."
"Is that all? Coulda fooled me, Doc."
She took the blankets from me. "Look, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here in the first place. I'll take the couch."
I grabbed them back. "No you won't. You're my guest. I'll sleep on the couch."
With eyes flashing, she brayed, "Like hell you will."
We stood toe to toe in a tug of war over the two blankets, and I had to admit she was stronger than me.
All at once, she burst out laughing. "This is ridiculous. We're battling over a stupid couch."
She picked up one of the pillows and bashed me on the head with it. That started a pillow fight, and minutes later, we were panting from exertion, and uncontrolled laughter. We both plunked onto the couch catching our breath. She shoved my shoulder once more, and I turned to look at her. Molto bene. Leah was flushed, and with the color in her cheeks, I'd never anyone so beautiful in 903 years.
Our eyes locked, and she leaned forward. My hearts got the best of me, and I could not resist. My fingers seemed to possess an animation all their own, and I quickly found them ruffling through the tendrils of her hair. Cupping the back of her head, I drew her closer. Our lips met, and I nearly regenerated on the spot. Blimey, but she could teach kissing lessons to a Dalek.
After several glorious minutes of this amorous exchange, I put a halt to the proceedings. I didn't want to, mind you, but it was getting a wee bit too heated. Loosening my hold on her—and actually, I hadn't realized how tight I was holding her—I stammered, "Oi, I think we'd better call it a night, Leah."
"'Night, Doctor. You can have the couch, but if you change your mind about the sleeping arrangements, there's a bed in the other room, and I'll be in it." She ended our encounter by tweaking my bow tie, and patting me on the chest, making me swallow like a planet was stuck in my craw. Then she gave me a wink that almost pitched me out of my seat. Blast it. I wouldn't get much sleep tonight.
% % % % %
It took me forever to get to sleep. I was still reeling from that kiss. Damn, damn, damn, I was falling for him, and I had sworn I would never love or trust another man again. But, oi, molto bene.
Oh my gawd, I was beginning to sound like him. He definitely was gettin' under my skin. The Doctor was adorable, brash, intelligent, and brave to the point of recklessness, and he possessed a sweet vulnerability that was so endearing. I even found myself beginning to lose my self-made wall of bitterness. It was crumbling bit by bit. I hardly ever swore anymore; I was sure it was because of my astro-nut. I realized too, that he had feelings for me. I could hear his breath catch, and his two hearts racing whenever he glanced my way tonight.
I hadn't planned on any of this, yet it happened. I was just out for a ride, and a way to get out of the rez, and instead of sailing up and into the stars, I had fallen to his feet, and the stars were now in my eyes. How could you do this to me, Doctor?
