I hadn't really thought about where we would be sleeping. What I wasn't prepared for was our own rooms. The Doctor lead Rose and I too our individual rooms, each room hoad our name on the door. I smile brightly at the man before entering, the walls were dark emerald, a forest green colour. The bed was metal framed queen sized with grey sheets and a matching furry blanket at the feet. A vanity sat on the left whilst two doors were on the right, I prance over to them strolling past the numerous plants and decorations. Turns out one is a closet and the other my own bathroom. I the TARDIS, I glance around the room again admiring the small details. The roof had stars and constellations littered around, my walls adorned rustic looking shelves which held books I had read and books I hadn't, vines hung from these slightly obscuring pieces of art which are hung up. I smile slightly.
"This is amazing." I compliment, earning a hum from the TARDIS.
"She's outdone herself." I voice calls, the Doctor must have followed me in. I spun to him, he stood in the doorway hands in his jacket pockets. I smile brightly at him before moving to the bed, falling backwards so I could look up at the stars.
"Got any plans for today then?" I query as I shift my gaze from the ceiling to his standing figure, I watch as the Doctor moves closer to me.
"No, I thought maybe you humans should catch some shut eye before we started a new adventure."
"Only us humans, no Timelords sleeping." I state, he shakes his head as he stands there almost above me.
"We don't need as much sleep as you lot do."
"Those dark circles you have beg to differ." I cheekily remark, he rolls his before heading to the door.
"Sleep." he orders looking over his shoulder briefly before continuing his exit. I roll my eyes at him before lifting myself up out of the bed and stroll to the closet.
I open the door, the TARDIS having placed the pyjamas I wanted at the front. Plaid trousers and a tank top. I switch my clothing before skipping into the bathroom. Once my make up was removed and my hair tied up out of the way I slide into the bed snuggling into the warm duvet. I love the TARDIS.
~1~
The process to forget the essence of oneself was tricky, normal done as a punishment to criminals and normally performed by someone who had gone through courses and passed an exam. I myself am not one of these people, therefore had no clue on what the fuck I was doing.
Closing my eyes I focus on the energy that made me what I am, forcing it to the back of my mind. I imagine a tall impenetrable wall sealing it off. Unlike Gallifreyans, Eternals had to hide their essence within themselves. Timelords were capable of removing it completely. Both methods resulted in exactly the same thing though, a human with no memory.
One thing that the elders had managed to leave out was how excruciating it was.
I jolt up out of bed my head throbbing as I pant heavily. Whatever I dreamt of must of scared the crap out of me. I wince slightly, the pain in my head not leaving. I swing my legs out of the bed, resting on the cooler floor which helped me ground myself. I'm done with sleeping.
Rapidly changing into some denim shorts, my trusty doc martins and a dark green baggy jumper I slide over to the mirror in the bathroom. The lovely TARDIS already placed the make up I wanted on the counter. Quickly adding some mascara, eyeliner and highlighter; I swipe my lip balm, sliding it into my shorts pocket before skipping out of my room.
I gently place my hand on the wall whilst whispering a thanks to the ship. Lights on the base of the floor light up leading the way to what I hoped was the kitchen. I follow blindly walking into Rose who was heading the same direction. She was dressed in different jeans, these a lighter blue than before. I couldn't tell what top she was wearing due to her zipped up hoodie. I smile brightly at her before we continue our trek. We arrive in the console, where the Doctor was flicking a few switches. I cough slightly alerting him of our wonderful presence.
"Right then, off we go. You humans have had your power nap." he announces rapidly flying around the controls. We barely had a chance to react before we were flung around like rag dolls. The spaceship acting as though we we're sailors travelling through the vast ocean straight into a hurricane. I cling to a nearby column as Rose clutches the bar surrounding the console. "Hold that down!" he orders Rose pointing briefly at a button, he then drags me towards the buttons and switches pointing to a lever for me to hold. We suddenly jolt to the left causing my grip to loosen slightly, and therefore the lever to return to an upright position. "I said hold it down!"
"I'd be able to hold it down better if someone could pilot this a hell of a lot calmer!" I snap back, shoving the lever down again.
"It's not going to work!" Rose shouts, clinging for dear life to the railing although still holding her button down.
"Oi! I promised you a time machine and that's what you're getting. Now, you've seen the future, let's have a look at the past. 1860. How does 1860 sound?" he shouts, not breathing inbetween any of his words.
"What happened in 1860?" I question. Doc grins at me before answering,
"I don't know, let's find out. Hold on, here we go!" we all fly to the left away from the console. I wall on someone as my back isn't met by the cold grating.
"Ugh." I groan, before bursting out in laughter. Not long after my companions join. We struggle to our feet, the person I fell on helping me up.
"Blimey!" Rose exclaims gently rubbing her arm. I giggle rolling my neck.
"You're telling me. Are you two all right?" he asks, focusing on one of the monitors.
"Yep." I answer shortly, joining him to look at the screen.
"Yeah. I think so. Nothing broken." Rose states walking over to us.
"Did we make it?" I ask gently at the same time Rose questions,
"Where are we?"
"I did it. Give the man a medal. Earth, Naples, December 24th, 1860." Doc announces, a happy and content grin plastered on his face.
"That's so weird. It's Christmas." Rose says grinning at the both of us.
"Never mind that it's 1860!" I exclaim, smiling widely. "That's awesome!"
"All yours." the Doctor reminds pointing to the door. Rose and I smile before linking arms. I pause slightly though turning back to Doc.
"It's so weird though, it's Christmas 1860. Happens once, just once and it's gone, it's finished, it'll never happen again. Except for you. You can go back and see days that are dead and gone a hundred thousand sunsets ago. No wonder you never stay still." I smile at the thought. It sounds wonderful to live like that.
"Not a bad life." he replies, still smiling.
"Better with three. Come on, then." Rose giggles, tugging me along to the door.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Doc interrupts, Rose and I glance at each other confused.
"1860..." I state, kinda obvious since I was just talking about it.
"Go out there dressed like that, you'll start a riot, you two. There's a wardrobe through there. First left, second right, third on the left, go straight ahead, under the stairs, past the bins, fifth door on your left. Hurry up!" he orders, leaning on the console with crossed arms. I huff following the directions. Well, following the lights on the floor.
~1~
Rose and I had been searching for a bit. the TARDIS had provided multiple different styled and coloured dresses. I huff looking for an emerald one. It's the one colour I adore. Hearing my desire the TARDIS moved the clothing rack revealing the dress I wanted; a floor length victorian styled dress, one designed for the middle class. The fabric a dark green with black buttons down the corset, the sleeves long and cuffed at the end. She also provided me with a black cloak to keep warm. I smile quickly, well as quickly as I could, switching my clothes. I leave my hair down to keep my neck warm unlike Rose who tied it up into a low bun. We smile at each others outfits before linking arms once again and returning to the console room. Rose had opted for a pink skirt with a black corset and matching cloak, rather similar to mine. We fiddly with the clothing, slightly uncomfortable in such attire.
"Don't worry Rose, you look radiant." I compliment, she smiles thankfully.
"Nothing compared to you."
We walk in, the Doctor looking up from whatever the hell he was doing. I let Rose go first, the Doctor smiling at her.
"Don't laugh." she orders, her voice filled with humor. He shakes his head before answering honestly,
"You look beautiful." I smile at the comment.
"That's what I was telling her." I add, joining the conversation. The Doctor's head swivels to me, reminding me slightly of a meerkat.
"Wow. You look exquisite." he compliments, I blush at this.
"That silver tongue of yours will get you nowhere." I chastise slightly.
"Well you both look lovely, considering." he adds, I roll my eyes at the considering. He couldn't have just left it.
"Considering what?" Rose questions, he head tilting slightly.
"Considering your humans." I scoff at his answer.
"Well sorry, not all of us can be Lords or Ladies of Time." I haughtily answer, smiling even though. "Anyway are you going to change, other than your jumper."
"No. Now come on." I huff at that, why do we have to wear uncomfortable clothing and he doesn't.
"You stay there. You've done this before. This is mine." Rose intervenes, stepping in front of the excited Timelord who had leapt up and headed to the exit.
She opens the door slowly, gingerly stepping out into the falling snow. I copy her actions, watching in awe as the white dots fall from the sky. Woah. I don't recall ever seeing snow before.
"I've never seen snow before."
"Oh you must have, it was snowing last Christmas." Rose answers, I furrow my brow in confusion, I remember last Christmas. But I don't remember what I did, who I was with. I shrug holding my hand out too catch the falling flakes.
"I got the flight a bit wrong." Doc calls, I shrug it was definitely expected with his driving.
"I don't care." Rose answers, enjoying the bustling people in the street.
"It's not 1860, it's 1869." he continues.
"Same thing." I reply.
"And it's not Naples." I roll my eyes at his persistence.
"I don't care." Rose repeats. Watching as many people walk around, assumably for some last minute christmas shopping.
"It's Cardiff." with this information Rose stops wandering.
"Right." she answers, I giggle before assuring the Timelord.
"I don't care. We're in the past! That's good enough for me." I smile, spinning on the spot, the snow catching in my red hair. Rose catches up to us, over whatever shock she had went into. We continue strolling down the street, my arm linked with both the Doctor and Rose. Our attentions is drawn as numerous people run out of a building, screaming some even crying.
"That's more like it." Doc grins, running away from us. Rose and I chasing after him. We pause at the doorway as we watch an old man and young woman grab a lady. I nod to Rose who heads towards the couple shouting,
"Oi, leave her alone! Doctor, I'll get them." she then proceeds to chase after the group.
"Be careful!" he yells back, turning to the man on stage. I reach the two, placing a hand on the Doctors arm. He smiles down at me before questioning the man. "Did it say anything? Can it speak? I'm the Doctor and that's Alula, by the way." the man remains horrified as Doc approaches. Leaping onto the stage to join the man, I however remain on the floor. Unable to copy his movements due to the fucking dress.
"Doctor? You look more like a navvie." he insults, the Doctor frowns looking at me slightly insulted.
"What's wrong with this jumper?"
"Nothing. You look perfectly handsome." I assure him, smiling slightly at the grin on his face. The blue ghost like creature continues to fly around until settling into one of the gas lights.
"Gas, it's made of gas!" Doc exclaims. We then proceed to exit the building, in search of Rose. I look over to my left, catching a glimpse of Rose being shoved into a hearse before the young lady slams the door and hurries to the front.
"Rose!" I yell, running towards the now moving hearse. The Doctor not too far behind me grabs my hand leading me over to another carriage.
"You follow that hearse." Doc orders, pointing at the now shrinking kidnappers.
"Now!" I shout. Panic for my blonde friend weeping into my bones, taking over my mind. As much as she annoys me, she was the only thing keeping me sane on Earth. The mundane life was killing me.
The Timelord helped my into the carriage, following not long after myself. Both of us repeating our sentences, only for them to fall on deaf ears.
"I can't do that, sir, madame." the driver interrupts. We both stare at the man confused on why he couldn't follow a hearse.
"Why not?" Doc inquires.
"I'll tell you why not. I'll give you a very good reason why not. Because this is my coach." the man from the theatre raises his voice at us. We sit there before the Doctor drags me onto his lap and the man into the coach.
"Well, get in then!" he demands before turning to the driver once more. I sit there blushing profusely as he rests his hands on my hips. "Move!" he once again commands, the driver finally ushers the horses to move, tugging the wooden coach down the road.
"Please hurry, your losing them!" I say, leaning back slightly against the Doctors chest.
The driver turns in his seat, looking down at the three of us, "Everything in order, Mister Dickens?" his question causes my head to swivel to my right. Dickens? As in Charles Dickens. What the actual fuck?! I wasn't the only one processing the drivers words as the alien I was sat on turns to the man as well.
"What did he say?" he states watching the man, Dickens also spoke at the same time,
"No, it is not!" he answers the driver.
"Dickens." I whisper to the Doctor in reply to his question.
"Dickens?" he repeats, a smile tugging his lips. his brows raised in what I guess is shock.
"Yes." Charles replies, only now focusing on us.
"Charles Dickens." Doc continues.
"Yes."
"The Charles Dickens?" I pipe up, awe filling my features as I look at the man sat with us. Let's be real here, this is fucking awesome.
"Should I remove the gentleman and lady, sir?" the drivers question gets lost over the Doctors rambling.
"Charles Dickens? You're brilliant, you are. Completely one hundred percent brilliant. I've read them all. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and what's the other one, the one with the ghost?" Doc riddles of his hands switching from between my hips to excited movements in the air. I smile widely at the man I was sat on, watching his eyes light up almost childishly.
"A Christmas Carol?" Charles offers. Looking rather amused by our reactions.
"No, no, no, the one with the trains.." Doc answers, his hands back on my torso.
"The Signal Man?" I offer, his smiles at my squeezing my hips in appreciation.
"That's it. Terrifying! The best short story ever written. You're a genius." he continues fangirling. Charles Dickens, smile his ego most definitely absorbing the constant compliments.
"You want me to get rid of them, sir?" the old man driving the coach queries again, Dickens turns to him.
"Er, no, I think they can stay." he answers, smiling at us. I smile back leaning into the Doctor again as the carriage jumps around from the rough road.
"Honestly, Charles. Can I call you Charles? I'm such a big fan." Doc continues, this moment had seemed to have made his day.
"A what? A big what?" Dickens questions, his brows furrowed at the new word. I wince at the aliens slip up.
"Fan. Number one fan, that's me." the Timelord continues oblivious to the confuzzled writer.
"How exactly are you a fan? In what way do you resemble a means of keeping oneself cool?" Charles inputs, his brow still furrowed as he watches us.
"It means fanatic, devoted to." I answer. He nods slowly understanding now.
"I've got to say, that American bit in Martin Chuzzlewit, what's that about? Was that just padding or what? I mean, it's rubbish, that bit." Doc insults, and we were doing so well.
"I thought you said you were my fan." the man says disgruntled. Obviously insulted.
"Well, if you can't take criticism." I mutter back, the Doctor choking slightly on a chuckle.
"Forget about that. Come on, faster!" the Timelord orders, returning from his fangirl moment. I nod in encouragement, remembering the original reason for this endeavor.
"Who exactly is in that hearse?" Charles asks, looking between the pair of us.
"My friend. She's only nineteen. It's my fault. She's in my care, and now she's in danger." Doc answers, his voice lined with guilt, I cough (not subtly) and elbow him slightly.
"Our friend, and she has a mind of her own. She decided to come along with you just as I did. She also decided to run after an old man and seemingly harmless young woman." in comfort, he nods although not believing me.
"Why are we wasting my time talking about dry old books? This is much more important. Driver, be swift! The chase is on!" Dickens commands, eager to help.