Another day, another sale at the Odds & Ends west of Bleaker Street.
Ripley finally celebrated her 26th birthday after years of having no birthday celebrations. Of course, Matt kept it minimal per her request, but made sure her birthday was just as good regardless. They spent her birthday eating takeaway from Ripley's favourite restaurant and watched some movies. She didn't feel like going anywhere in the cooling weather and Matt didn't blame her, he wanted to be where it's warm, and what better way than with his accompanying friend and lover?
Of course, Ripley remember that her appointment's in two days during this time and Matt took her mind off it in the way he knew how. She forgot about it after Matt cheered her up and kept her mind off it until the inevitable day it happened.
The trip to the doctor on the 16th ended on a good note, Ripley's cleared. Neither doctor or nurse saw any indication of her wrist cut and she avoided having to tell them about it.
Some updates from the couple.
Karen and Arthur reminded Matt and Ripley to pick them up on December 13th so they can come home, get back into the swing of things, and catch up before the holidays.
Arthur's got his books readied for his publisher, so when he gets back, he'll be busied with that.
Karen's keen on starting her training right after the holidays were over and that'd mean she might not be able to be in the shop as often as she liked. She's ecstatic about shadowing a detective and couldn't wait.
They haven't been made aware of Matt and Ripley's relationship quite yet, the couple deciding that it's better to tell them in person than a message.
As for Thanksgiving plans for this year, Matt's planning on bringing Ripley along to his parents and reintroducing her as his girlfriend. He dropped hints here and there about his "new" girlfriend, but kept his family largely in the dark. Just as means to ensure they're mentally prepared when he broke the news.
Matt expected it to go well, it's his family after all, and they'd want his happiness more than anything.
This year's different as his aunt and uncle aren't in attendance, they're in another country right now with his baby cousins, but he's sure his mother will happily tell the news to them henceforth.
For their inevitable Christmas plans Karen and Arthur no doubt wanted to spend it with their families, so it'll be only Matt and Ripley unless otherwise.
Matt's trying to get Ripley into the idea of a Christmas tree, but she felt that it'd be more trouble than it's worth. Besides, it's a hassle of itself to get a tree, tie it to Matt's beetle, bring it back to the shop, and get it ready for the needles to drop before they could decorate it.
Of course, Matt couldn't help but try, anyway.
He's already thinking of a Christmas present for Ripley and she's thinking about his.
It's one of those things that they'll think about until December rolls around and they're quick to jump on their respected presents before Christmas comes.
New Years' thus far looks to be the day where the couples would be in attendance and watch the spectacle on the Telly.
Oh yes, busy time of the year, indeed!
The weather's starting to chill even more out now with more flurries in the broadcast with chance of sleet tonight. Predications of a cold Thanksgiving this year with a chance of snow, this time, it'll stick and it's not enough to cause issues with traveling, but towards the beginning of December, there's a cold front moving in from the north that's expected to drop enough snow to cause headaches for travelers starting to leave for their Christmas vacations.
Today would've been a normal day hadn't the heater in Ripley's flat decided that today's the day it wants to fuss and in between working with customers, Ripley and Matt worked to fix it before they're forced to resign to sleeping in the TARDIS until it's finally fixed or it's spring.
While sleeping in the TARDIS wouldn't be so bad, seeing they done it a couple of times during long haul adventures that required them to rest in the TARDIS, the couple wanted their privacy and considering Jodie's always watching, even indirectly, well, they rather fix the heater.
"Freezing weather tonight and it wants to fuss," Matt sighed as he tapped his screwdriver against the metal casing.
He would've used his Sonic Screwdriver to fix the heater without blinking, if not the fact he didn't want to become over dependent on it. It's a useful tool, yes, but Matt wanted to use it sparingly as much as possible, because if it breaks and he desperately needed it, where would he be?
"If all fails, there's a repairman we can hire… in a few weeks," Ripley sighed as she looked down at the opened heater.
Repairmen have been in full force since the air started chilling because of homes overusing their heaters and causing issues because of it. Given the age of some buildings, repairmen needed to revisit constantly to keep heaters fixed.
"I had a different idea, actually," Matt spoke up as he touched the exposed wires.
Ripley inquired what the idea was and Matt suggested that if the heater wasn't fixed in a timely matter, she'd room with him in his flat for the time being. He's willing to share the heat and he didn't want her getting sick.
Unfortunately, for privacy, it's limited as Miss Lagniappe's not expected to leave to visit her family until the end of the week.
But, for the time being, it's better than nothing.
"You make a solid point, but I do have a shop to run," Ripley frowned.
She didn't have a problem with rooming with Matt on the account of, well, they're a couple, but constantly going between his flat and her shop might cause issues eventually.
Not to forget that often the TARDIS receives messages from people in need of help, so there's that.
Matt assured her they'll figure it out, they always do.
If they can't fix it, he'll happily share his bed with Ripley, as long as she let him have some space.
"Funny," Ripley looked at him.
She disappeared out of her flat to tend to the shop while Matt worked on the heater.
He used the knowledge he procured from working with Ripley and discovered that, despite what he'd normally dealt with in her shop, he couldn't fix the heater, there's melted bits inside the housing.
Even if he used his Sonic Screwdriver, it's not going to work properly and Matt didn't want to risk causing a fire.
Seeing that it'll take a week or two to get the parts needed to repair it, plus scrape off the melted bits, suppose Matt might make good on his offer and let Ripley room with him until a repairman can come out and fix it himself.
"Hey Matt," Ripley reappeared from the shop.
Matt turned his head and asked what she wanted and she said that he'd received a phone call in the TARDIS. Specifically asked for the Doctor, she said.
Nodding, Matt left the heater alone while he went with Ripley down the staircase and into the backroom where she handed him the receiver.
Holding it up to his ear, he asked who it was and a woman spoke over the phone.
"Ah, Doctor," the woman said, knowing who he was, and proceeded to tell him the reason for her calling.
"I require your assistance in a precarious matter, Doctor," the woman explained to him.
Matt blinked as he then asked, "Well, what sort of precarious matter?"
The woman, affluent from the way she talked, said to him over the phone, "I'm dealing with a ghost, you see, a very annoying one."
Overhearing, Ripley wondered why the woman didn't just call the Ghostbusters and have them deal with the ghost.
Of course, they're fictional and nonexistent in the extent of their travels, so that's out, but the fact the woman's calling Matt about a ghost, well, that's a new one.
"Um, I'm not sure how much help I'd be," Matt told her in earnest.
He's willing to help, but he doesn't know how to deal with ghosts other than the usual seances and such, but practically aside, he wouldn't know what to do.
The woman seemed to believe he could help her and asked if he'd like to visit her manor and discuss the details more.
"Um, sure, I suppose, where are you?" Matt asked her.
The woman, Liliana, told him she lives in Rose Manor. She gave him the address and hung up, leaving Matt baffled as he hung up the receiver and close the hidden door.
"A ghost?" Ripley blinked.
Matt nodded.
"Well, I don't think we can just vacuum it away," Ripley shrugged her stout shoulders.
Matt inquired what she thinks of it and she admitted she didn't know what to think of the odd request.
"She trusted me, so, suppose that's good, right?" Matt wondered.
Ripley asked if he wanted to go and he nodded, curious as he is, and requested Ripley's assistance.
Just in case that it is a ghost and Matt has someone to back him up and that he didn't want her to work in her shop in the cold, heavy clothes or not.
"Sure, I'll talk to some ghosts," Ripley said.
She went and prepared the shop to close for the time being and went back into the backroom with Matt entering the TARDIS.
Entering the TARDIS and closing the door, Ripley turned around as Matt began pushing buttons and flipped a switch.
The air around them chill and cooled. The sounds of metal sheets rubbing against each other echoed throughout the console room until it finally ceased.
Opening the door again, Ripley saw they've landed in a beautiful courtyard with a manor in the distance.
"Wow," Ripley's impressed at the beauty.
Matt appeared behind her and spotted the beauty, he's amazed as she was, and the couple stepped out of the TARDIS with Ripley locking it.
Walking with Ripley, Matt walked over the neatly paved stones that led up to the manor, past a massive fountain, and there's tended flowers that looked bright and smelled heavenly.
"Rose Manor, huh?" Ripley looked at Matt.
Matt nodded.
Looking around, confused, Ripley noticed there's not even a single rose bush, not even wild roses.
"Why's there no roses?" Ripley questioned.
Even if Rose's just a surname, Ripley expected a play on words with a rose bush here and there.
Doesn't seem to be one at all.
Heading up the ivory steps to the massive French doors, Matt used the massive door knocker and waited with Ripley at his side.
"Imagine if this was one of our places," Matt mused at the thought of the manor being one of their homes.
Ripley noted that while the thought's nice, the costs and the cleaning it'd require, wouldn't be so nice.
"Well, we'd have more legroom," Matt smirked.
Ripley would've elbowed him hadn't the French doors opened inward and they're presented with a strange sight.
"You've gotta be kidding," Ripley frowned.
It's a Sontaran!
… Wearing… wearing… a butler's outfit?!
"Ah, the Doctor, I presume?" the Sontaran looked at Matt.
Matt nodded and pointed at Ripley before saying, "And friend!"
Letting them inside, the Sontaran butler closed the French doors and led the couple throughout the beautifully decorated manor.
Paintings, statues, the whole thing. Almost made them think they're in the wrong manor.
"So fancy," Ripley mused.
Matt nodded in agreement as he quipped, "Must've cost a fortune!"
The Sontaran butler overheard their exchange and explained that the manor's calculated worth is over quadrillion.
It's a high count that even the couple had to stop and think about how much the manor's worth. The Sontaran butler confirmed it's worth that much and for them to come with him, Lady Liliana's waiting for them in the study.
Upon reaching the study, the Sontaran butler halted the couple and entered the study to announce their presence to Liliana. Once he stepped back out, he motioned with his white gloved hand for them to follow.
As they did, they're met with a large study with a portrait above a massive fireplace.
There's a desk at the centre, handmade and stained with a deep burgundy colour, and a veiled woman sitting at it.
"Doctor," Liliana acknowledged his presence.
"Liliana," Matt acknowledged back.
The woman lifted her veil to show her face to him and surprised the couple.
She's a Silurian.
"Welcome to Rose Manor," she pleasantly said.
