sixwordstories | (no subject)

Course it is. [ Clara smiles, and of course she is curious about one thing. ] Now you have that chance to find it, and to bring it back.

[Clara saved him again, and she probably didn't even realize it this time. He felt lighter if that was somehow possible.]

Maybe you'll get to see it. It's a beautiful place. Red grass, silver leaves on the trees.

[ She didn't realize it, but she also couldn't stand to see him go through it all over again. Clara continues to smile, as listens to him speak warmly of his home.

The hut was a nice touch, but she is sure she would have loved to see more of it in a time of peace. ] Oh I bet it's lovely. Sooo! Tell me more about your home. What about schools? Did you go to school? Of course you did! That's a ridiculous question to ask.

[ She's smiling. Hard not to. ] It suits you.

I think it's wonderful that you actually get to have some hope this time, rather than bring it to other people.

Yes, it is! Good to see you again!

Of course I did. I went to the Academy on Gallifrey. It's a bit different than the school you went to. But it was a different kind of education I suppose. Learning about time is different than reading or math, but we did that too.

[He grins right back]

It's a good feeling, one I never thought I'd have again.

It's not something I'd really thought I'd have again. Maybe someday, I can show it to you.

Janie! [He's glad to see her too]

It really is. It's been a very long time.

Hello, Doctor! I might have jammy dodgers in my bag, I just need to check.

...Though, I'm not sure how long it's been since we spoke, but you're always quite nice to find. Have you been well?

You mean... Gallifrey? [Her voice is soft, eyes lighting up.]

I... [Way to go, Doctor. You've rendered her temporarily speechless.]

..I've always wondered about it.

There's no one I would rather show it to, and I don't think I know anyone who would appreciate it as much as you.

[Time Lord DNA, it was as much a part of her as it was of him.]

It's beautiful. There are places almost as lovely but nothing quite the same.

[This day is getting better and better.]

A while, but I haven't felt this good in a long time. How have things been with you?

[She reaches into her bag, and she has a small pack of the cookies that The Doctor likes so much]

Here you are, Doctor! I'm really glad that you're doing well. I am too! Everything is great for me today.

Did they teach you about the worlds beyond Gallifrey? I'm a little curious about how you found your itch to travel.

I always did dream about those places that I wanted to visit, and the books always made things seem so flat. My mum's book was the one that did it for me, it just painted the world as this mysterious place full of danger and excitement.

[Those words wash over her and settle deep in her heart. She's visibly, emotionally moved by her husband's words. She accepted her life as it is a long time ago, but the truth is, she's never properly fit in anywhere. Conceived on a time machine, born on an asteroid in the wrong century, and then there are those days when she runs with the Doctor but she has to keep mum on things that haven't happened for im yet. She's had the luxury of three different faces due to regeneration, she was a natural TARDIS pilot, and she understood extremely complex temporal physics.

But was it enough? Was she enough of a Time Lord? She'd always wondered what Gallifrey would view her as. But then she'd away those thoughts, taking comfort in the fact that the only one whose eyes she cared about were The Doctor's.]

How beautiful? Tell me.

I wouldn't have lasted this long without it.

[The Doctor sits, leaving plenty of room for River to join him if she's so inclined. This seemed like the kind of story that needed some kind of physical contact. He had a lot of of memories to tell her what she wanted to know and he wanted it to be a story.]

It looked red and yellow from space, but the surface was so much more than that. The mountains glowed during the morning when the sun rose in the south. There were silver leaves on the trees, they shone when the light hit them just right. It was beautiful.

[His grin got bigger if that was possible. Jammie Dodgers, hope and good company. It was a good day.]

That's just wonderful.

[He probably looked centuries younger than he had the last time she saw him. He felt it.]

It does add a certain element of happiness to everything, doesn't it?

You look really nice! I can't quite put my finger on it, but I like it. It's a month before Christmas, what would you like? I buy presents but never remember who they're for, so I'd have to write your name on it.

[She looks the same as she did before, and is really excited about seeing The Doctor again]

For the most part, yeah. Happiness and hope go well together. It was my hope for you that kept me going and how I got to be where I am.

[She's absolutely inclined, taking her favorite position with him - by his side. ~~Whoawut no innuendo?~~ River gently places her hand on his knee, her eyes proof that she's hanging on his every word. She knows whatever picture she puts together in her head will never compare to the memories he's recalling, but he is right - it sounds beautiful.]

Sun in the south... And was it just the one sun?

[The Doctor put his arm around her, happy to actually be talking about his home in a way that didn't sound like sad nostalgia but hopeful reminiscing. He was sure River knew some of these things, considering she used her Archeology degree to find him, but it was nice to be able to really tell her about Gallifrey. It's always different to hear it from someone who lived it than reading it in a book.]

No, two suns. It was very dry, mostly a desert planet. The cities were a little cooler though.