I'm still kinda on a fic writing hiatus and it may be a while until my backlog of prompts are published. Sorry, I just haven't got enough time at the moment to concentrate on my longer prompts but I don't mind writing these little quick bits that pop into my head. Anyway, I don't know if you're aware of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that's gone viral. But, anyway, John Barrowman nominated David Tennant to do it and I was inspired to write about the Tenth Doctor having a go at the challenge. Oh, and I'm not even sorry for the cheesy title of this ficlet.
The Doctor had heard about this latest viral craze and naturally decided to do some research before giving it a go himself. He was a Timelord with superior biology and wanted to show he could handle the cold and wouldn't make any of the ridiculous sounds he'd heard from some of the people in the many videos he had watched. To him, it wasn't a challenge, it was an experiment. He had enlisted help from a reluctant Donna.
"You better not have put ice in there, sunshine," Donna yelled as she narrowed her eyes at the bucket suspended above her. "You're not soaking me!"
"Relax, Donna. The bucket is empty. I just need to test out the logistics." The Doctor wore his glasses as he checked a piece of paper and then studied the contraption that held the bucket. He had decided to construct a pulley that would tip the bucket over and was now in the process of testing it.
"Well, that's alright then." There was a pause before she added. "Wouldn't it be easier for me just to chuck a bucket of ice over you?"
"Nah. The experiment will be more successful if the test subject interacts with as much variable as possible. And to be honest, you're a lousy shot." He said the final statement in an undertone, futilely hoping Donna wouldn't hear him.
"You what, spaceman?!"
The Doctor hastily backtracked; he didn't want a slap. "I mean, a sign of a good experiment is minimal variables to ensure impartiality. Now, Donna, I need you to pull the rope to see if it will work properly."
Donna looked warily at the Doctor and gingerly grabbed the rope. She stilled. She was no genius but even she could feel there was slightly more resistance than when she was absently playing with the rope a few moments before. The sneaky Martian, she thought. She beamed widely and in a way that she hoped was innocent and not smug.
"You know, Doctor, I think you should test it. You built it and you know what results you want to see." Donna paused. She could almost see the cogs turning in the Doctor's mind as he realised she was talking sense. Then, she delivered the kicker. "And you are the test subject for the actual experiment."
"Yes, Donna. You're completely right," he said as he removed his glasses and placed them on top of his jacket that he had taken off earlier.
Donna stepped out from under the bucket, keeping her face carefully composed. The Doctor took her place. In his rush, he didn't feel an extra resistance on the rope as he pulled it. The bucket tipped over and ice cascaded over his body. He gasped loudly. It was so cold and even though he remembered he was supposed to be proving that he was more superior, he couldn't help the small squeaks that escaped his mouth. Donna laughed at his predicament. His eyes, which had closed on impact with the ice, opened in shock.
"Donna!"
"Spaceman!" She mimicked.
"You tricked me."
"No, you tricked me. You filled the bucket when I wasn't looking. But I was on to you and I got you back. Ha!"
"I didn't," he protested.
"Well, I certainly didn't do it either." Donna paused. "So, who did put ice in the bucket?"
Together, they looked at the Tardis walls as a sneaking suspicion came to mind.
The Tardis let out a smug beep. Well, if her Timelord insisted on being an idiot all the time, the least she could do was have a bit of revenge from time to time.
