nexus_crossings | +1 Time Travelling tea lover

+1 Time Travelling tea lover

"Well now, this is different, isn't it? Nice place."

The Doctor now walking through the Plaza, hands jammed inside the pockets of his pinstriped brown trousers with matching suit. He just wanted to get a feel of the new world he'd stepped into---or another dimension, since he'd been wanting to meet up with Rose and Mickey back at their flat. But, he'd ran into some trouble with the dimensional stabiliser and--BAM! He'd ended up here inside the Nexus. Was there a reason for this? Perhaps.

He sat at one of the benches and looked up at the sky, noticing a few cloud formations. At least he hadn't ended up on a barren, desolate planet or inside a black hole. That could have been bad. Very bad. This Nexus seemed like a nice place---almost like Earth in a way. Now, to meet the inhabitants. That was the big thing for the Doctor, who was a social butterfly when the need took him. The temptation to visit the many shops, taverns and other such places were tugging at the Doctor, as he directed his question to one and all.

"What's a Timelord to do in a place like this?"

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Manny has been wandering through the Plaza around the same time the man asked this particularly odd question. He turned over to his direction with a skeptical look on his face. "What exactly is a time lord?"

Oh. Oh. Well, wasn't he a big fellow? The Doctor looked up at the big floofy creature and offered a beaming smile. A woolly mammoth in the flesh no doubt! A flashback through time a few thousand years or so.

"A good question. Well, we have a binary vascular system, come from the planet Gallifrey, talk a lot and enjoy a good cup of tea when it's about. Of course there's much more to it than that but I'd like to say hello."

The Doctor now waving to his new big friend.

"I'm the Doctor. Timelord."

"Alright then, so you're saying that you're an alien that looks like a human, or maybe it's the other way around or something." Manny concluded. Seeing as the Timelord introduced himself, he'll do the same. "I'm Manfred, but you can call me Manny."

"Yes, in a mannner of speaking. Most just assume I'm human until they put me under a microscope, which isn't very polite at all. Manfred? Oh, Manny---alright. Manny. Nice name."

Was the Doctor talking to a real life mammoth? Yes, he was.

"How long have you been here in the Nexus, Manny?"

"I've only been in here for about a week and a few days." Manny answered.

"Oh, you have? I've been here for what? All of twenty minutes I'd say."

The Doctor couldn't believe he was seeing a real, talking mammoth in the flesh. Talking? Yes, that part confused him but who was he to question the animal kingdom? Manny was such a handsome beast at that.

"What do you do around here, Manny? Do you do uh---mammoth things?"

"I mostly just hang around the Plaza area in case if I don't get back to my home world." Manny answered. "I sometimes go around to check the other areas of the Nexus on a few occasions. But that's about it."

"What do you mean in case I don't get back to my home world? Where is that? Earth? During the ice age sometime I'm guessing?"

The Doctor wasn't sure and didn't want to assume where Manny came from. He could be from another plant entirely. A planet full of woolly mammoths!

Manny nodded. "Yeah, it's Earth when it's going through an Ice Age. What I mean is I'm not entirely sure if whatever force that brought me here is willing to put me back to my world, but I guess that doesn't really matter now."

It wasn't Heiiu's first time in the Nexus, but they were still new enough that they were all but fluttering around to look at everything around them- even if it might be hard to trace their gaze with the featureless, cracked mask they wore. But their body language was absolutely delight and excitement, right down to all four hands fidgeting in front of them like they weren't sure where they wanted to go, what they wanted to see first.

The question brought them up short, perking slightly as they turned to the stranger who spoke to them, head tilting slightly.

"Anything, I suppose!" Their voice wasn't as muffled-sounding as it should likely be coming from behind a mask like that, and they seemed to visibly brighten as they spoke. "Isn't that exciting?"

"Anything? What a good answer that is too. Hello, there. I'm the Doctor."

The Doctor now putting out a hand to greet the creature, who had four hands---oh, delightful! Still, the beings around the Nexus had been friendly so far, which was always a bonus in the Time Lord's books.

"Indeed it is exciting! What was, what is and what is to come. All of it. Who might I be addressing?"

The Doctor putting on a beaming smile.

"It's one of my favorite things about being people!"

Oh! Introductions! Heiiu can't help the way their fingers wiggle in excitement before they accept the offered hand to shake- first with one hand as is polite, but they're so excited at the idea that they're making a new friend that all four hands are soon wrapped around the Doctor's in an enthusiastic shake before he's being released.

"I'm Heiiu," And yes it sounded more like 'hey you' than a name but try telling them that! "It's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor!"

"Heiiu? Nice to meet you and a pleasure it is too. So many hands you have. I bet you can hammer out a decent tune on a piano with four hands, eh?"

The Doctor grinned and just pictured that image and then tried not to appear rude because he was still getting used to this new body he'd regenerated into. The man he was to become was still at it's infancy, finding out about his personality among other things.

"What do you do around here, Heiiu? It seems a busy place."

"I can't say I've much experience with hammers but I'm fairly certain one doesn't use them on pianos..." They sounded a bit uncertain about that though, pondering the idea. "Maybe tiny ones to make the keys make that nice plinky sound? I am rather good with a lyre though!"

"It's so busy here! So many people about and things to do and see!" Heiiu seemed positively delighted about all of this, to be honest. "I've only been here once before, but I was a bit too *new* at you know this whole *being* thing so I wasn't really able to appreciate it all... but I can now! We can explore together, if you'd like!"

"A hammer on a piano? That could strike a chord."

The Doctor grinned and liked meeting this new friend of his who was obviously a keen musician. A lyre! Oh, those were fun to play. Fiddly but fun.

"Brilliant! I love a busy place and meeting new people, cultures and creatures. I'd love to explore with you. Where should we go first? What's good?"

The Doctor trying to be one of the cool kids. Was he cool? He hoped so!

There is an angel--not the Weeping kind--who does a brief double take at the appearance of the Doctor. Outwardly, he looks a bit like Crowley. Aziraphale's Crowley, that is, not the one from his own world. Clearly, however, he is not.

"...well," he answers mildly, "what's a Timelord to do when they're at home? I find i can usually recommend drinking."

"Home? Funny you should say that because I don't really have one of those---or, rather, the TARDIS is home now. Big, blue box parked here somewhere. She's having one of her tantrums because time and space got ripped apart and I ended up here."

The Doctor knew he talked a lot but did enjoy a good drink. Of tea. Or---possibly wine, or whatever beverage was offered to him because it is very hard to get a Time Lord drunk.

"Drinking? Ah, of course. What is your poison, sir?"

His eyebrows quirk at big blue box, and it's a safe bet he's not picturing anything like what the TARDIS actually looks like. But hey, to each his own! He's not one to judge someone just for living in a box.

"How much of an issue is time and space getting ripped apart, do you think? Should we be ducking and covering, or is it likely to sort itself out?" Look, you live through one Apocalypse and you start to develop a weird attitude toward this sort of thing.

"Me? I'll drink anything. Preference for a good Scotch, though. There are a number of bars around the Nexus. If you like to sample the local cuisine, you couldn't have come to a better place."

"The thing is I honestly have no idea at times. I mean---there are huge universal events which sort of get complicated and big, very big. All the big explosions, sucking in gravity and all of that stuff. Very messy. Have you had any issues with ripping apart universes recently then?"

The Doctor frowned and was curious about the man because he certainly looked human enough but then, what was human? The Doctor himself portrayed a picture of a man but was so much more.

"Oh--I'm the Doctor by the way. Sorry if I seem a little rude, I'm still fresh in this new body."

Regenerations and all of that. He held out a hand for the man to shake if he so wished.

"Yes, I'd love to. Drink that is. Drink and sample the local cuisine with a decent enough guide, if you are so offering, good sir."

Aal's ears perk up at the voice and question. Her ears shifted to a more canine shape and furring the same color as her hair. Despite herself at the possibility of a new friend. She softly clears her throat and focus to keep her tail from popping out and wagging just yet. Best not to get ahead of ones self. Or hopes up too high.

Big crowds she wasn't always the best with but well a nice group/circle of friends suited her just fine. Or being helpful.

She wiggles a wee bit, happily as she pulls her wagon sill with several presents and such to hand out behind her. "Ello, Well that depends I suppose on what sort of things ya like." She murmurs back maybe a bit obvious but she needed some sort of idea to start with.

Can't make bricks without clay, can't narrow down good suggestions without data for the pro list.

Oh, a wagon of goods! Well now, that was a welcome sight for sore eyes because the Doctor loved goodies.

"Hello there. Yes, good question. A decent cup of tea and a slice of cake couldn't go badly wrong right now."

He offered her a beaming smile and was pleased that the Nexus residents were so friendly and welcoming.

Aal grins back warmly and murmurs a wee playful "ello ello." Back as he seemed a good-natured sort of fellow. She hums nods and listen raptly.

Before tapping the side of her nose in thought for a moment. "Well there's a couple places you can get that..If ya want something causal there's a cafe..But if ya like a proper 'Tea' there is a Japanese tea room with a garden and the whole shebang." She informs him. Mirroring the grin.

Her ear perking up a bit more, hopeful. Offering her hand out to shake. "I'm Aalish, by the way, Mrs. Aalish SinClair of Mist Haven." She murmurs best she could. Always feeling she did half her introductions clunky like. Giving him a slightly sheepish apologetic smile.

"I love a decent cup of British tea. The good strong one with plenty of tannin and all that goodness."

The Doctor being saved by a good old cup of English tea. Well, that would be a story to tell. Japanese tea though---that was also tasty with the green variety being the Doctor's favourite.

"Green tea! Herbal, all those are good too. Nice to meet you, Aalish. Mrs Aalish SinClair of Mist Haven. I'm the Doctor."

The Timelord now shaking Aalish's hand.

Aal hums and nods, again in thought. "Mmh, well I know of one bookshop owner who'd likely know how to make such." She half murmurs in thought. She really needed to stop by and say hello herself some time. Schedules and all that. "I can do the baked goods side of it." She adds warmly. Yes, I nice little get together would be something to try and work on next time she sees any of the others about. She decides with a wee nod. Granted she didn't always have the best of luck with such. But one didn't know till ya tried..again.

She hums and nods approvingly even if they weren't her flavor. At least it was healthy.

She grins at that, "Likewise..Doctor." She murmurs, first with a blink , then with a warm nod and happy canine like squint. Her ears wiggle despite herself. "Freinds call me Aal or Ash, ahem if ya like." She adds knowing twas a mouth full. Plus well she always did like making pals.

A hand comes down on his shoulder, warm and friendly. "Whatever he wants, I'd wager," Jack Harkness says, beaming that pearly white grin of his at this familiar face. "Don't tell me you've never been here before. This is your kinda place."

The Doctor turned at that hand on his shoulder and stood still for a moment, frozen on the spot because he wasn't expecting the man before him. Not at all.

"But---how? I mean, you--"

This was impossible. Wasn't it?

"Captain Jack Harkness?"

This Nexus also brought people back?

"In the flesh," Jack answers with a cheeky grin. It's obvious just from the expression on the Doctor's face that seeing the captain - not just here, but at all - is a big surprise. Which means there might be timey-wimey bullshit happening.

Fortunately, they're both old hands at that, despite Jack being a century or so out of practice. Comes with taking the long way.

"It's been a few years since I last ran into you," he says easily, putting his hands in his coat pockets. "What about you? Have we done the Year That Never Was yet?"

"Well, you could say I've been there and back again. I've just got over meeting Madame du Pompadour in the flesh and stopping a load of clockwork machines from taking off her head. Awesome ship from the 51st century though. Time windows and all of that."

The Doctor grinned.

"She snogged me too."

That part would surely please Jack of all people.

So that's a no, then; best to keep those memories to himself. Can't be giving away spoilers, after all. Or can he? Fixed point in time... hm. Things get strange around time anomalies, and Jack now knows he's the mother of all time anomalies. Plus the Doctor is a Time Lord, and you know what they're like. Best to play it safe anyway. At least the Doctor isn't running away from him this time.

So he chuckles, raising his eyebrows at the Doctor. "Time windows, huh? Tricky business. I'd rather travel by vortex manipulator, myself. Or the TARDIS, of course." He glances around casually. "Where is she, anyway?"

Yes, Jack, that was definitely a no. This version of the Doctor is from an earlier point in the timeline from those events. Running--oh, this version of the Doctor loves to run. That and hug.

"Time windows. Big things that take massive amounts of energy to run and keep going. Big waste of time if you ask me. Pardon the expression."

The Doctor grinned, facing back around for a few moments looking back to where she was parked.

"Not far. Just past the Plaza and neatly parked behind a load of dustbins. She blends in a bit better that way."

"Don't you ever park her anywhere nice?" Jack asks, his grin making it clear he's teasing. Oh he's missed this.

He's tempted to ask to see her. It's been a while since he's said hello to the old girl. But... given how hard she tried to shake him off last time, maybe he'd better not. Especially not if that hasn't happened yet. So instead he laughs it off, casually putting his hands in his coat pockets.

"So, first time, huh?"

Tielle gives the doctor a bemused smile. She was wholly unfamiliar with what a Time Lord was or what they did, but she was certainly interested. She lounged in the shade of her parasol, twirling it between her fingers as she leaned back on a nearby bench.

"I'm not sure exactly what a Time Lord usually does, but there are a few options depending on your mood. There are a few shops and storefronts with some rather unique trinket and baubles, there's a decent little dive bar that has some good drinks and even a fighting ring if you're the type who prefers talking with their fists..."

She gives him a wide smile, revealing a prominent pair of fangs.

"... or if all else fails, us locals can be quite entertaining. Having so many people from so many different universes all in one place can really broaden one's horizons..."

She pulls out a small leather bound notebook and a pen, flipping through the pages.

"...and I do love learning about people, you could say it's a bit of a hobby of mine..."

"Hello there. Oh---thank you for all this useful information. Yes, trinkets, baubles, dive bars, fighting rings. These all sound fantastic!"

The Doctor beamed, offering the young woman a youthful smile. But she had---wait. Fangs? A vampire? Oh. Oh! A real vampire.

"Forgive me for noticing but---are you a vampire?"

She seemed friendly enough.

She gave him a nod as she pulled out a small pewter flask, unscrewing the top.

"Indeed I am. No need to be sorry, I'm not exactly subtle about it. Helps me figure out what I'm dealing with by getting it out of the way early. You don't seem to be pulling out various religious paraphernalia, so that's a good sign at least."

She takes a sip from her flask, wiping the crimson stain from her lips as she screws the lid back on tight.

"Oh, and don't worry, I don't bite... well not unless you're into that sort of thing. I'd rather not make more vampire spawn if I can help it though... population control is a logistics nightmare when most of them insist on drinking straight from the tap, so to speak."

Well, well, who have we here? One's sense of timelines is necessary muddled in a place like the Nexus, but when it comes to the Doctor, the Master considers himself finely attuned to nuance. This, he's fairly certain, is the Doctor before he stumbled upon that human fool Yana at the end of the universe, before he had any idea that the Master had also escaped the devastation of the Time War.

And isn't that just fun? The Master could clap his hands with glee. And here in the Nexus, he needn't even worry about the consequences of crossing his timeline.

Instead, he idly fishes a satsuma out of his pocket from where he's leaning against a nearby streetlamp, tossing it and catching it a few times as he watches the Doctor shrewdly.

'A Time Lord can do what he likes, surely.' He lifts his voice just enough to answer the Doctor's question, shouldering himself off the streetlamp to idly meander in the Doctor's direction, still playing catch with the satsuma. He's smiling just a little, eyebrow up, waiting to see if the Doctor clocks him for who he is. 'Playing tourist? That's usually your bag, isn't it?'

((OOC: Hope it's not wildly too late to jump on this post! I saw and couldn't resist))

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+1 Time Travelling tea lover

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resurrecting an old muse just for this

Jack!

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pulling this motherfucker out after ten years