thoughtformed | gr8 ideas

[ The Doctor looks confused at that. He's thoughtful for a few seconds, trying to sort it out. ]

This is place is being kind, then [ he sounds surprised even as he says it ] ... is that right? That doesn't sound right.

It doesn't sound right. But... the island giveth and the island taketh away. Just like I was telling you about Rose. Although.. if she were to return... I wonder how that would go. Might be interesting seeing you three fight over the same woman.

[ looks away, trying to appear casual and most likely failing miserably. ]

Should get a drink. They'll want to shoo me off otherwise.

Nah. It's Ianto's place. Mine's in the back if you want to see it. How 'bout it?

... you're not taking me to your bedroom, are you?

[ He laughs and shakes his head. ]

Wow, and people think I'm forward. I mean, if you want to, I'll be happy to show you once Ianto closes shop but he's not too keen on sharing so it might take some convincing.

But no, I just wanted to show you what I've been working on sometime. Where did you think I was going to have you put up shelves?

[ he's trying very hard to keep a straight face ]

Oh, you really do need to have shelves put up? I thought that was one of your lines.

Well, not shelves, but I definitely could use your help. See, sometimes when the events happen, strange monsters appear and attack people... but then there are creatures that live here that I've never seen before. I want to learn about them and study them. See if they're giving off Rift energy... I understand the Rift a little better than the random events that happen here. It'd be nice to know if I'm dealing with something familiar.

[ He shifts and folds his hands on the table. ]

So now it's my turn to ask questions, Doctor. What can you tell me about Dalekanium?

There's a word I hadn't heard in ages. It's the material Dalek casings are made of, the original casings mind, no idea of what the ones is Satellite 5 were made of.

Anyway, strong material, hard to destroy.

Which must mean that building things out of it must be difficult as well. What properties does it have? If I'm going to build things out of it, I don't want it irradiating what I'm holding or anything.

[ sighs, a bit annoyed, why would anyone want to build anything with the material Daleks use? ]

I don't know much about it— and I'm not just saying that. I've never taken the time to give it a close look. If I had to guess, I'd say it's safe to handle, possibly good as a conductor and unlikely to absorb any harmful sort of radiation. The only thing I know about it with absolute certainty is how to destroy it. [ he finishes with a smile ]

[ Don't stifle his creativity, Doctor. That's rude. But Jack does love that smile quite a lot. ]

Yeah, I know. You're really good at it. But that doesn't really tell me how to use it. It's just metal, right? What's the harm?

There's no harm, I'm just prejudiced.

[ he's joking. Mostly. ]

Yeah. So am I. Trust me. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be sitting here now. [ More specifically, if it weren't for Rose, but... he's been over that for some time. ] Will you tell me how to use it? How to harvest it?

Harvest? I thought you had a sample, not that it— How much of it do you have?

Personally? I don't have any. I told you that there were remnants of Dalek technology on the island, didn't I? I want to use some of that. See, back in Cardiff in Torchwood, we would find alien tech and use it to arm humanity against what's coming. In this case, I want to use it to learn more about this place, to find out why we come here and maybe how we can get back.

Well... Some of us. [ He looks back over to Ianto, his expression saddened for a moment. ] I don't think I want to return. Not yet.

[ The Doctor follows Jack's eyes and speaks without thinking ] You don't have to. [ and he catches himself ] Go back, I mean. [ he taps his fingers on the table, fidgeting]

I had a thought earlier, when you said he remembered.

[ He turns back to him, curiosity written all over his face. Did The Doctor know something that Jack didn't? ]

Go on. What did you think of?

I was about to regenerate, the next incarnation was too when he showed up here. End of the line, and then we wake up here.

Maybe this place is being kind, at least in some cases. And if that's it then there's no rush, is there? You could have a lifetime here with Ianto and go back to the time and place you were in before you woke up here.

[ The smile on Jack's lips tells him that he likes the sentiment. He nods. ]

Like a purgatory of some kind. But I'm not sure I want to go back to a lifetime where I don't get to remember the life I had with someone I love. Now I ask you, is that kindness? Or is it cruelty?

Now, that's you assuming the worst case scenario. You know there's precedent of amnesia, but there's no telling if it's caused by leaving or by coming back.

That is true... I think if I could be sure I wouldn't forget.. I think maybe someday I could fathom going back. But I think, at least for now, helping everyone else get home would be the best thing to do. And I think by learning what I can about this place and using the island against itself, maybe I can do some good while I'm here.

Fair enough. So, you were going to show me.

gr8 ideas

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject