GUYS! IT HAPPENED, I MET PETER CAPALDI and PEARL! Words cannot express my joy. I decided to go to Cardiff for my birthday which was last week to hopefully see some Doctor Who filming if I was lucky and it happened on my last day there. I travelled from Cardiff to Newport (a 15mins train journey) to where they were filming in the house from 'Blink'. Peter and Pearl were so nice! Peter arrived on set stepping out from the car dressed in his full Doctor's outfit, close to where I was standing and I said hi, he smiled and said hello back then came straight over and asked if I wanted a photo! I couldn't cope! Pearl also gave me some helpful advice and a hug :D
That's my news so now with the chapter! Would love to hear what you think!
Chapter 16 Mummy on the Orient Express
"Do I have to wear one?" Lauren whined as Clara searched through dresses suitable for going on the Orient Express train in space.
"Yes," Clara answered curtly not turning round. She continued to poke through dresses on the hanger in the TARDIS wardrobe. She eventually picked out two from the correct era that she liked.
She held them out either side of her. "This one," Clara said moving a long elegant dress over her body to estimate how it would look on her, "Or this one," she did the same with a flapper golden beaded dress. The one Clara had worn on the show.
"That one," Lauren said pointing to the golden one Clara held out on her left. "For sure."
Clara stepped up to the mirror holding the golden dress to her. "Yes. This will do very nicely." She said admiring herself in the mirror, viewing herself from side to side.
"Can I not just wear a suit? Women can wear suits it's not unusual." Lauren continued to complain at the prospect of wearing a dress.
Clara still looking at her reflection sighed before turning her gaze to the younger girl hovering by the side of the grand mirror who looked like she was going to throw a tantrum at this rate.
"Yes, women wear suits all the time. How are you going to cope if you travel to the past? Like Victorian England?"
"I'll just have to wear a dress in public," Lauren mumbled nibbling on her fingernails. She hated dresses with a passion. She always wore trousers. However if she goes back in time to the past (which she hasn't as of yet) she would have to wear one. Unless she could help it – and this was one of those times she could. "But it's in space, in the future I don't actually need to wear one."
"It's an Orient Express themed train. Theme, Lauren, where you dress up like you are in the era that's the point." Clara stressed, setting her chosen outfit neatly aside to pick out a suitable dress that Lauren will wear and tolerate at the very least.
"Anyway, it's for fun and I've never seen you in a dress before, not once. And since this is my last trip I am getting you in one. There is no argument. Then after it's over you can go back to your trousers and suits." Clara picked out one from the hanger that she thought would look lovely on Lauren. "What you wear is up to you. But just this once, one last trip, please wear this for me. Do something different."
Clara was giving Lauren her wide doe eyes. God, not those eyes again, how could anyone say no to that look? She now understood why the Doctor couldn't. Clara had perfected the puppy dog eye look. Lauren internally screamed to herself. She was going to regret this, this was against her values. She sighed loudly giving into Clara's look. Well, she had to fit into the time era, even if it was just a theme.
"FINE! OK! Just this once. But you owe me big time!" Lauren huffed, grabbing the chosen dress from Clara to go change behind the cover, forcefully kicking a box of stuff out of her way as she did.
Clara unfazed by Lauren's little outburst, smiled in victory. She knew Lauren had a bit of a temper especially if you make her do things she utterly hates. She was aware she was going to have to put up with the girl's complaints for the rest of the evening but it was going to be worth it. Lauren was going to be on her best behaviour.
After half an hour of fussing and complaining Lauren was in her long silver, sleeveless flapper dress with a rather beautiful beaded pattern around the straps and torso. Similar in style with Clara's dress but not as fancy, not that she cared she had no interest, or not as revealing in the chest area, but Lauren wanted something more practical and comfortable; well, as comfortable as she could ever be in a dress. She then agreed for Clara to curl her hair but that was it. She refused to wear makeup since she had a habit of touching her face often that any makeup would be smeared.
"I am not wearing high heels! Flats for me otherwise I will break my ankles," Lauren said looking at the various high heeled shoes as if they offended her.
Clara had gone away to get changed herself and do her hair into that bob style she knew she was going to have. Lauren made a note to ask her if the TARDIS provided her with a wig or something, she always wondered how she got her hair done like she did. She on the other hand had her hair styled down and curled, framing her face and falling over her shoulders contrasting to Clara's short bob style.
Lauren eventually found the glove sleeves that went with her dress after minutes of searching and put them on, they came just under her elbow.
After what was an age for Clara to get ready she finally emerged wearing her flapper golden dress, bob wig that looked flawlessly real and makeup applied, Lauren's jaw dropped.
She looked beautiful.
Lauren's brain seemed to have stopped functioning as her eyes took in Clara's figure. Clara was always a stunning woman, she could wear anything and make it look good, but damn, she seemed to have went one step further.
Lauren's eyes lingered over parts of her body until Clara's voice chimed in, "My face is up here."
Lauren blushed and quickly averted her eyes, suddenly interested in a fez sitting on a box, before her eyes darted back to see Clara's reaction.
Clara was giving her a knowing look. Gotcha, and her lips quirked in a smug smile. "Ready?" Clara asked innocently.
"Yes," Lauren immediately responded, heading out towards the console room realizing the Doctor has probably ran out of patience waiting for them to get ready.
The Doctor was fiddling with his long bow tie knot at his collar, reminding her of his Third self. He was wearing a smart, black tux with a white handkerchief in his breast pocket. He looked very fine indeed.
"Wow! Could you wear that more often?" Lauren asked. She wouldn't mind if that became his normal outfit. Capaldi had worn it well and it suited his Doctor. The Doctor jerked his head up and took in her appearance.
"You look…lovely," He said making it sound more of a question, hoping it was the right compliment. Lauren smiled, the Doctor relaxed, he got it right. "Yes very lovely," he gestured.
"Thanks. Though I hate wearing dresses. You look lovely too, very dapper. Bit of a silver fox you are," Lauren said admiring.
"Silver fox what does that mean?" He asked curiously just as Clara walked in.
"What was that?" Clara asked looking bewildered at hearing his question.
"Well presented!" Lauren quickly said before Clara could say anything more. "It means you look well presented in that suit…" she trailed off hoping the Doctor would believe that explanation.
"Oh," the Doctor said looking quite happy at the thought. "Ready?" he asked them.
They nodded. Lauren looking relieved at avoiding what could of been an awkward moment. "You both look splendid," he complimented. Well, he was improving and trying to make an effort of being nice.
He set their destination and piloted and landed the ship with relative ease this time.
The Doctor made his way to the doors and the girls followed. Clara nudged Lauren and whispered in her ear teasingly, "Silver fox?"
"Hush you."
The TARDIS had materialized in the back of the car of the train amidst racks of suitcases, the place was dark with no light. The Doctor stepped out first checking the space. He turned and held out his hand to his companions, taking Clara's first as she stepped out then Lauren's saying, "Your train awaits, my ladies."
"Wonderful," Clara remarked.
"It's dark," Lauren said at the same time Clara spoke.
"The baggage car," the Doctor explained looking between the two in slight amusement, "But thanks for lying Clara, and yes its dark. The real wonderful is through here," he walked them to the door leading out. Light and music was coming from behind it. The sound of people having a good time.
It was still dark by the door but standing close to the Doctor Lauren could make out his facial expressions. He held a finger in the air between them, an excited grin on his face, clearly eager to impress, "There were many trains to take the name Orient Express, but only one in space," he opened the door revealing the lounge of the train.
It was a big spaced carriage with comfortable looking chairs down the sides, a bar at the end and armed men standing guard by the door ways. Passengers sat happily chatting and drinking. There was a band playing in the back, a slow jazz version of 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Queen sung by a young pretty lady. The pretty lady called herself Foxes back in Lauren's world, she was a real and quite famous singer. Lauren loved the red, gold, and rich brown colours of the carriage, it made it look so warm and welcoming. She had to remind herself this trip was going to turn out not so welcoming with a mummy running around killing people.
Lauren frowned at the thought. Quite a few people died in this episode and she didn't know if she could do anything, she couldn't give her secret away. And this was one of her favourite episodes of the series and now she felt sick at the thought of liking it now but she couldn't help it.
"Of course it is," Clara said in response to the Doctor. Foxes the singer continued her melody in the background.
"Completely faithful recreation of the original Orient Express. Except slightly bigger. And in space. Oh, and the rails are actually hyperspace ribbons. But in every other respect, identical. Painstaking attention to detail – " the Doctor was cut off in his explanation as a bald bearded man with a steampunk eye-patch shoved his way between the Doctor and Clara.
The Doctor glared at the back of the man's head and rubbed his arm, "Most of the time," he mumbled.
Foxes sang on and Lauren hummed to the tune.
The Doctor looked at Clara and sighed. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?" Clara asked confused.
"The smile." He said slightly annoyed.
Clara gave a small laugh not understanding his problem, "Yeah, I'm smiling."
"It's the sad smile. It's a smile but you're sad. It's confusing," the Doctor then made a gesture with his hand, "It's like two emotions at once. It's like you're malfunctioning." He said more harshly than he intended.
Clara stopped smiling and looked down at her feet feeling awkward, "Sorry." She whispered wishing there wasn't going to be this tension between them on her last trip.
The Doctor sighed again, "I just thought this would be a good one to – "
"To end it." Clara finished for him. "Yeah. It is. It's a good choice. A good one to end on," she looked up at him and smiled.
"Yeah?" the Doctor asked hopefully. Clara hummed her agreement. "Shall we?" the Doctor offered both his arms to Clara and Lauren. Clara taking his left, Lauren his right. They walk over to one of the nearest windows with a table taking some champagne glasses.
There was a ping sound that echoed around the train loud enough for passengers to hear. The computer Gus speaks:
'Ladies and gentlemen. If you would be good enough to look from the windows on the right of the train, you'll be able to see the soaring majesty of the Magellan black hole.' Gus spoke in a robotic, cheerful tone that sent shivers down Lauren's spine.
Gus was behind everything here and they never did find out who he really was. Lauren tried to ignore the unease at hearing his voice and focused her gaze out the window like the Doctor and Clara were doing, the Doctor was sandwiched between the two girls.
The view was beautiful, the shade of pinkish red clouds being sucked into the great black hole. Lauren didn't think she'll ever get used to seeing such sights.
"Oh, I remember when this was all planets as far as the eye could see. All gone now," the Doctor made a tsk sound, a sad tone laced his last words. "Gobbled up by that beast. And there's that smile again. I don't even know how you do that. Do you know how she does it?" the Doctor turned to Lauren.
"It's completely normal Doctor to smile and be sad or be happy and sad," Lauren explained though the Doctor just seemed to become more confused.
Clara was leaning down with her arms resting on the table, her head almost resting on the Doctor's arm as she stared out to the view yet her eyes seemed distant. "I really thought I hated you, you know?" she said suddenly.
"Well, thank God you kept that to yourself," the Doctor counteracted with humour before starting off into one of his explanations, "There was this planet, Obsidian. The planet of perpetual darkness,"
Clara ignoring his talk of the planets continued in her musings, "I did. I did hate you. In fact, I hated you for weeks."
"Good, fine. Well, I'm glad that we cleared that up. There was also a planet that was made completely of shrubs." The Doctor tried to steer the conversation away from emotional stuff, that wasn't his area. Lauren elbowed him as Clara continued on.
"I went to a concert once. Can't remember who it was. But do you know what the singer said?"
The Doctor who had now given up in trying to change the conversation leaned more comfortably on the table, and tried to consider Clara's question and scoffed, "Frankly, that would be an absolutely astonishing guess if I did know." How was he meant to know what the singer said? He thought.
Clara took a breath, "She said, 'hatred is too strong an emotion to waste on someone that you don't like.'"
The Doctor blinked several times in the way he did when he was utterly confused at what someone just said to him. He moved slightly and began waving his hands around, "Were people really confused?" he then gestured to himself, "Cos I'm confused. Did everybody leave?"
Clara smiled and giggled to herself before looping her arm through his, ignoring his look of alarm, moving him back down and stilling him so she could rest her head against his shoulder. "Shh. Shut up." She said fondly.
Lauren not missing an opportunity also looped her arm around the Doctor's other. This is nice she thought. Now however the Doctor really did feel trapped but at least he was keeping quiet.
Clara closed her eyes briefly, now making herself clear, "Look, what I'm trying to say is, I don't hate you." She opened her eyes again but continued to look out at the view rather than him. "I could never hate you. But I can't do this anymore. Not the way you do it." She whispered trying to keep her voice neutral, she hoped he would understand.
There was several seconds of silence as the Doctor processed this, eyes looking above Clara's head. "Can I talk about the planets now?" he whispered helplessly, the only response he could think of.
Lauren and Clara both smiled at him, "Yes. Go." Clara said happily, they let go of his arms so he was free to explain.
The Doctor didn't miss a beat, "Thedion Four. Constant acid rain. Had a lovely picnic there once, wearing a gas mask."
"That's a lie!" A voice behind them said loudly and accusingly. It seemed the whole carriage went silent and everyone stared at the woman who made the accusation.
The trio turned to see Maisie, a blonde haired woman who looked distressed. Although she would be distressed. Her gran having died suddenly by what she didn't know yet, the mummy. Lauren felt sorry for her. She wasn't really having a good day and she was a kind, sweet person from what she saw of her.
"I'm sorry?" Clara asked her.
"That's a lie, what you said," she was looking to the Doctor, "Thedion Four was destroyed thousands of years ago, so you couldn't have been there."
The chief train guard comes over whom Lauren has forgotten the name of. "Miss Pitt, are you sure you wouldn't rather rest in your room?" he asks her gently.
"That man's a liar." Maisie points to the Doctor still clearly in some emotional turmoil and just saying what she felt without thinking.
"Perhaps you'd allow Mister Carlyle here to escort you back." The chief train guard coaxed. Another guard came over, presumably Mr Carlyle.
"It'll be all right, miss. Just come with me." Mr Carlyle escorts an uncertain Maisie out of the carriage and everyone turns away and continues their conversations; minding their own businesses again.
"Sorry about that. I suppose it's understandable in the circumstances. I don't believe we've been introduced. Captain Quell."
Ah so his name was Quell.
Clara introduced them. "I'm Clara. This is the Doctor and Lauren.
"Ah, another one." Quell said.
"Sorry? Another what?"
"Well, we've got doctors and professors coming out of our ears on this trip. So, what are you a doctor of?" Quell eyed the Doctor curiously yet with a hint of suspicion having not seen them on the train before this point.
"Now, there's a question that's never asked often enough. Let's say intestinal parasites."
Why Doctor? Lauren thought shaking her head.
Quell looked taken back and now was more suspicious of him, "I'm beginning to think Miss Pitt was right about you." He tipped his hat and made to leave.
"What's wrong with her? Did something happen?" Clara asked before he got a chance to.
Quell frowned at them, "You mean you really don't know?" The trio just stared at him blankly.
Quell began to explain to them the sudden death of Miss Pitt's grandmother but not before the old woman claimed to have seen a mummy coming towards her. A mummy according to witnesses only she could see. Lauren suddenly felt eyes staring at her and sure enough the Doctor was glancing at her when Quell first mentioned the mummy. Lauren was confused, what was he staring at her for? What did she do or does she have something on her face?
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"There's a body and there's a mummy. I mean, can you not just get on a train? Did a wizard put a curse on you about mini breaks?" Clara jokingly asked the Doctor. They were walking out into the narrow and dark corridor each carrying their champagne, heading in the direction of their rooms. It was narrow enough that it was a tight squeeze to walk side by side so they moved in single file. Clara leading the way, Lauren not far behind her and the Doctor last.
"It might be nothing. Old ladies die all the time. It's practically their job description," the Doctor replied moving slowly.
"And the monster?" Clara paused to ask.
"Well, seen by no one except her, which suggests that it wasn't there. A dying brain, lack of oxygen, hallucinations. Anyway, people do just die sometimes. She was over a hundred years old." The Doctor tried to reason. They were now all standing close together in the corridor facing each other trying to make out the other's expression.
"Says the two thousand year old man," Clara countered looking up at him. Lauren laughed.
"Clara, you actually sound as if you want this to be a thing. Do you?" he reminded her of her choice. She didn't want to do this anymore so why did it sound like she wanted it to be otherwise?
"No. No, look, fine. You know, if you think that there is nothing to worry about, then that is fine by me," Clara thankfully walked further down allowing Lauren to move forward and follow. Standing in a camped dark corridor was not her ideal place to talk some important stuff but what could she do.
The Doctor didn't move, merely stood still holding his glass to him, the only light came from the carriage they just left behind him, illuminating his profile making it easier to see his face now as Lauren looked back at him. "Are you sure?" he asked quietly.
Clara not turning around, "Ah, yes, I'm sure," she said raising her glass in the air briefly.
Lauren felt slightly awkward standing between them, feeling much like a third wheel so far during the conversation.
"To our last hurrah." He said softly.
Clara turned around then, "Our last, yeah. I mean, it's not like I'm never going to see you two again." As the words left her mouth she suddenly felt she was asking more of a question than a statement as she looked at the Doctor, taking in his solemn expression.
"Isn't it?" he asked honestly.
"Is it?" Clara replied nervously.
"I thought that's what you wanted." He said continuing to look at her with that expression that did nothing to help her unease. Did he think this was goodbye? Was this goodbye? Clara thought.
Clara walked back to him, squeezing past Lauren careful not to spill the champagne. "No, what I mean, you're going to come round for dinner or something, aren't you? Do you, do you do that? Do you come round to people's houses for dinner?"
No he doesn't Lauren thought.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I do that?" the Doctor said softly but the words didn't feel true, not to Clara or Lauren or even himself.
"I don't know. I thought you might find it boring."
"Is it boring?"
For him yes
"No." Clara said quickly. She raises her champagne glass, "To the last hurrah," the Doctor and Lauren raise theirs.
"The last hurrah." They said clicking their glasses together.
Lauren took a gulp of hers before spitting it back into the glass, ruining the moment. She made a disgusted face. "How do you guys drink this crap?"
"Are you sure you're Irish?" Clara joked.
"Oh ha ha. It'll shock you to know I don't even like Guinness."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lauren lay on the top bunk bed staring at the ceiling. She'd taken off her flat shoes and was bare foot but still wore her dress despite being uncomfortable in it but she refused to take it off, knowing she would be up in no time when the fun would begin. Clara had changed below her into those temptingly soft looking silk PJs that Lauren wanted to wear. However if she did she wouldn't take them off again and wandering around a fancy posh train in front of guest in her PJs was too much of an embarrassing thought. Lauren could be very self-conscious at times. Anyway she was planning on walking out the same time the Doctor was going to from his room beside them.
The only problem was she didn't know exactly when he was going to step out to 'accidentally' bump into him.
She was on edge. There was a twisting feeling in her stomach and she wasn't feeling sick. She was waiting until the adventure would kick in but what was she waiting on exactly? People to die? She liked the adventures she didn't know of, well, they scared her because she felt she was more in danger and could die at any moment if things turned bad but at least she didn't know if people would die.
Right now Lauren could get up and walk around the train and point out every person who was going to die tomorrow. Quell for a start. What was worse she could stop it, she knew the word, it's meaning to stop the mummy. Lauren could in theory save everyone here but she couldn't not without blowing her cover.
Is keeping my knowledge from the Doctor more important than saving people's lives?
She managed to save Henry and that was good. She can changes things.
Just not everything…
But she was reckless when she saved him, acting before thinking and the Doctor became wary of her. Saving Henry had no overall effect to the plot, but if Lauren were to save some one from the mummy whatever way she thinks of it would end the adventure a lot sooner than it should.
And that would or could be disastrous. The Doctor and Clara need to have their important realizations. Cut the episode short, would Clara still choose to stay? Would they come to the same understanding they did at the end of the episode?
This is why I'm leaving. It's because you lie, you lie to me again and again
So you were pretending to be heartless?
Would you like to think that of me?
Sometimes the only choices you have are bad ones but you still have to choose
Tiny ripples can become tidal waves.
Or maybe she was overthinking all of this. If she helped solve the mummy case quicker maybe hardly anything will change.
Is keeping my knowledge from the Doctor more important than saving people's lives? The thought came round again.
Lauren swallowed hard. This is why she shouldn't be left alone with her thoughts. They will consume her.
"You're being awfully quiet," Clara comment from the bottom bunk.
"Just thinking."
The bed creaked as Clara shifted around. "About what?" she asked.
"Nothing important," Lauren replied dismissively.
"So something important then," Clara deduced.
"It's honestly nothing important. Don't worry."
"So I should worry then."
"Clara!" Lauren laughed despite herself. "Stop it."
She heard Clara shift again and the sound of hands and feet climbing up the ladder. Clara's head popped into view. "You haven't even changed," she said frowning.
"Will do in a bit," Lauren lied.
"What's wrong?" Clara asked.
"What makes you think something is wrong?"
"Well for a start you're not complaining about the dress, not even taken it off yet. And you're being quiet. Quietly moping I should say," Clara said sharp in her observations.
"I'm not moping," Lauren grumbled.
"You so are," Clara then climbed into the bed causing Lauren to move over to provide more space for her to lay beside her. "Thinking of your family? Are you missing them?"
Lauren sighed in defeat and continued to stare at the ceiling. "Yes I miss them but it's not what I was thinking of."
"Oh."
There was a pause.
"Were you thinking how dashing the Doctor is in that suit?" Clara teased trying to get her to open up more.
Lauren groaned and covered her eyes. Great Clara was not going to let her comment drop. "Come on!" Lauren said exasperatedly while Clara laughed. "I didn't mean anything by it and like you haven't noticed," Lauren shot back.
"So what's bothering you?" Clara asked again seriously. Lauren didn't reply for a couple of minutes.
"It's not easy is it?" Lauren looked to Clara who frowned in confusion, "Being the one to make the hard choice," she whispered.
Before Clara could ask her to elaborate her mobile phone started ringing. "That's probably Danny," Clara sighed and maneuvered herself down the ladder to fetch her phone.
While she greeted Danny Lauren sat up realizing she needed to leave soon. After ten minutes Clara was still on the phone but their conversation was coming to an end so Lauren climbed down and made for the door.
"Yeah. It's pretty boring, really," Clara said to Danny.
Lauren had her hand on the door knob. "Hey were you off to?" Clara called, mobile pressed to her chest so Danny didn't hear.
"Err, the toilet," she said simply, opening and closing the door behind her. A few seconds later the Doctor stepped out of his room.
He caught sight of Lauren and they just stared at each other in the darkness.
"Hi," Lauren whispered breaking the silence.
"Hello," he whispered back. "Where are you going?"
"I could ask the same of you."
"I asked first," the Doctor countered.
"The ladies restroom," Lauren answered. The Doctor nodded and took the few steps to stand next to her. Lauren looked up at him. "You're going to investigate aren't you?"
"Yes," the Doctor breathed.
"Can I come?"
"Yeah sure." He said then looked back at Lauren and Clara's door. He hesitates for a second before gesturing for them to walk on.
A few seconds after they left Clara emerges from her room and knocked on the Doctor's door, "Doctor? Are you awake?"