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sixwordstories2014-02-01 02:04 am
westeast) wrote in sixwordstories2014-02-01 02:04 am
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There isn't any rush, you know.
I fear things are more troubled and hurried than they may seem, madam. There are rumblings of war, and even the high priest worries.
He paused, turning to face her on his journey to the North. To the chill and forgotten lands.
"I suppose that is correct," he said, regarding the ancient woman. "I have considerable time. Perhaps...all of it."
"I suppose that is correct," he said, regarding the ancient woman. "I have considerable time. Perhaps...all of it."
"Practically eternal," he said, with a voice of profound regret.
At the second statement, however, he seemed to hesitate.
"I...do not enjoy. Not anymore. That, along with all emotion, has been frozen dead in me. And yet, I go on. A miserable joke."
At the second statement, however, he seemed to hesitate.
"I...do not enjoy. Not anymore. That, along with all emotion, has been frozen dead in me. And yet, I go on. A miserable joke."
"Hm..." Humans were not made to be eternal. This could only end poorly.
"You do not enjoy... Why? What has happened that has killed the warmth in you, sir?" She drew a little closer, concern starting to cross her features. Still too cold for her to like, but it hurt to just turn her back on him.
"You do not enjoy... Why? What has happened that has killed the warmth in you, sir?" She drew a little closer, concern starting to cross her features. Still too cold for her to like, but it hurt to just turn her back on him.
Aaah, I wish many people would follow your wisdom, Madame. There is absolutely nothing wrong with exercising a little patience.
He blinked in confusion at that. Was that...concern? He had not seen concern since...Nora.
"I lost my wife and became...this, in a single moment. Now I am merely vengeance. And thus I head north, to the wastes. Let me be lost, there."
"I lost my wife and became...this, in a single moment. Now I am merely vengeance. And thus I head north, to the wastes. Let me be lost, there."
Of course there was concern. Humans were fragile, short lived creatures, and to hear one had been cursed with eternal life and doomed to live it without feeling, in the cold no less, was heart breaking.
"You lost someone you loved dearly... And feel you may never find such a person ever again... Oh my dear, my poor dear. There is still so much to be had for you."
"You lost someone you loved dearly... And feel you may never find such a person ever again... Oh my dear, my poor dear. There is still so much to be had for you."
[ The Doctor cracks a friendly smile, and looks for a place to seat himself down. ] You'd be surprise that even an old man can still be impatient.
[ He laughs as he seats himself down on the ground. ] When you're getting ready to stare down death, I suppose one must be a tad bit impatient to get things done.
[ He laughs as he seats himself down on the ground. ] When you're getting ready to stare down death, I suppose one must be a tad bit impatient to get things done.
[She remains standing. It's so hard for her to get up once she's sat down on the ground!]
Oh right, of course, I imagine that being on deaths door might make you a tad bit impatient, but I still have never seen much of a reason to rush! It just makes things more complicated. As I have heard, 'the hurrider I go, the behinder I get!'
Oh right, of course, I imagine that being on deaths door might make you a tad bit impatient, but I still have never seen much of a reason to rush! It just makes things more complicated. As I have heard, 'the hurrider I go, the behinder I get!'
"You are...kind to say so," he replied, looking at her while figuring out just where this was coming from.
"And there will be no other person. Nora was...unique. There was...never a single moment of doubt. It was her, from the start. From that first time I met her."
And she sat, in her frozen tomb, dead to him forever. He would never cure her disease, not with all his frozen years. She was entombed, for all time. She had trusted him, believed that he could save her.
Failure hung heavy upon him.
"And there will be no other person. Nora was...unique. There was...never a single moment of doubt. It was her, from the start. From that first time I met her."
And she sat, in her frozen tomb, dead to him forever. He would never cure her disease, not with all his frozen years. She was entombed, for all time. She had trusted him, believed that he could save her.
Failure hung heavy upon him.
"I wouldn't lie to you my dear." She knew what it was like, in the end. To lose the one person that she could ever be with. This pain was familiar to her. She moved closer, unflinching, and moved to place a tiny hand on his own, patting gently.
"There will be no one else like her. I understand. Ne replacements, no one better. Oh my dear, I know how you feel... But would she want you to carry on with ice in your soul? Would it please her to know that you suffer without her now?"
"There will be no one else like her. I understand. Ne replacements, no one better. Oh my dear, I know how you feel... But would she want you to carry on with ice in your soul? Would it please her to know that you suffer without her now?"
"I..."
The contact with another human hand was...surprising. Shocking. His hand jerked back. He looked at her.
"Sorry, I...it has been some time. I usually am wearing my survival suit." This far towards the wastes however, at this time of year, it was unnecessary. It, along with his cold gun, were safely packed away.
"I...no, she would not. But I cannot. She was far stronger than me. Kinder. Better. She could forgive all who did her ill. I cannot. I am not her."
The contact with another human hand was...surprising. Shocking. His hand jerked back. He looked at her.
"Sorry, I...it has been some time. I usually am wearing my survival suit." This far towards the wastes however, at this time of year, it was unnecessary. It, along with his cold gun, were safely packed away.
"I...no, she would not. But I cannot. She was far stronger than me. Kinder. Better. She could forgive all who did her ill. I cannot. I am not her."
Her fingers sought his hand again, old and fragile, attempting to wind around his own. He was cold, so cold, and she was so used to heat that it was quite a shock, but she refused to just let go.
"There is no need to apologize. You have done nothing to me." She found no ill in him, he just seemed... damaged. Terribly damaged. She didn't have it in her to be offended that he would pull away.
"You think so little of yourself... You don't have to be here, you can still live for her. Still try to live the way she would have wanted you to. It would be a sign of love, keep her in your heart and cherish that warmth." It hurt so much to see someone like this, it really did. She didn't wish to leave him in this cold.
"There is no need to apologize. You have done nothing to me." She found no ill in him, he just seemed... damaged. Terribly damaged. She didn't have it in her to be offended that he would pull away.
"You think so little of yourself... You don't have to be here, you can still live for her. Still try to live the way she would have wanted you to. It would be a sign of love, keep her in your heart and cherish that warmth." It hurt so much to see someone like this, it really did. She didn't wish to leave him in this cold.
[ The Doctor finds a chair, and seats himself down in it. His smile continues to remain bright and friendly, as he takes time to enjoy this conversation with another ancient.
He clasps his hands in his lap, and he takes in the scenery around him. Stopping he turns his attention right back to Bao, and he gives thought to what he is about to say. ]
When you seem as short lived as a mayfly, perhaps one can't settle for too long. The human race can accomplish so much in so little time, and that is one of the reasons I find them to be admirable despite all of their flaws.
He clasps his hands in his lap, and he takes in the scenery around him. Stopping he turns his attention right back to Bao, and he gives thought to what he is about to say. ]
When you seem as short lived as a mayfly, perhaps one can't settle for too long. The human race can accomplish so much in so little time, and that is one of the reasons I find them to be admirable despite all of their flaws.
Without even realizing it, he squeezed, gently. God, it had been so long...
"Nor will I," he said, just in case she recognized who he was. Some did. They generally ran. Some tried to kill him.
"I am...this. A monster, a remnant of a man stuck in a metal shell. I have caused...terrible harm. I am unworthy of that. Unworthy of her. I...I keep her with me, always."
In fact, he'd only come south to get components to maintain her power source. So it was true beyond even she could know.
"But how can I be worthy of that? I have fallen too far from her light."
"Nor will I," he said, just in case she recognized who he was. Some did. They generally ran. Some tried to kill him.
"I am...this. A monster, a remnant of a man stuck in a metal shell. I have caused...terrible harm. I am unworthy of that. Unworthy of her. I...I keep her with me, always."
In fact, he'd only come south to get components to maintain her power source. So it was true beyond even she could know.
"But how can I be worthy of that? I have fallen too far from her light."
[True, humans were like sparks. Bright and lively for one moment before dimming out and going black. It was almost tragic, but she enjoyed them so very much]
Ah, more than you appear are you? How interesting! Humans are amazing little creatures indeed. I remember when they were just little monkeys! They've come such a long way from then, it's so impressive.
A species worth admiring, I believe.
Ah, more than you appear are you? How interesting! Humans are amazing little creatures indeed. I remember when they were just little monkeys! They've come such a long way from then, it's so impressive.
A species worth admiring, I believe.
There was a gentle squeeze back, but it was not frail. Old hands hinted of extreme power, something that could easily crush, but was tender instead.
No, she had no idea who he was. She barely kept up with modern things, if her old attire was of any indication, she would have no idea what kind of criminal she was talking to. But, if he did her no harm, he was beyond her judgment in her eyes.
"Oh... my dear. My poor dear. There is always time. Time to make things right, time to turn things around. It isn't hopeless. You can still show everyone there is someone worth saving in you." She pulled his hand a bit closer, towards herself, gently petting his hand.
"She would still love you, I am sure of it. She knew who you are. Who you would always be."
No, she had no idea who he was. She barely kept up with modern things, if her old attire was of any indication, she would have no idea what kind of criminal she was talking to. But, if he did her no harm, he was beyond her judgment in her eyes.
"Oh... my dear. My poor dear. There is always time. Time to make things right, time to turn things around. It isn't hopeless. You can still show everyone there is someone worth saving in you." She pulled his hand a bit closer, towards herself, gently petting his hand.
"She would still love you, I am sure of it. She knew who you are. Who you would always be."
Inner Victor is one step away from just sobbing on her, so you know. Awesome character.
frozendeadinme
2014-02-02 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
He was silent, wondering about those hands. She was like iron, underneath. Much more to her than met the eye.
"I did...one thing in her name," he admitted, finally. He did not speak on it further. A city, saved. A world, even. "Because there are men darker than me, by far. I am a madman, a creature of hate and vengeance - but I am not them."
"She could not have anticipated me as I am now, that I know. I live to restore her to life, to let her...live on. It is all I have, all I will require."
Then, perhaps, it would be his time to end. He wondered, idly, how this old woman had taken him aside, a traveler on the road. And reduced him to such a state. He was telling secrets of his thoughts he had told no other.
"I did...one thing in her name," he admitted, finally. He did not speak on it further. A city, saved. A world, even. "Because there are men darker than me, by far. I am a madman, a creature of hate and vengeance - but I am not them."
"She could not have anticipated me as I am now, that I know. I live to restore her to life, to let her...live on. It is all I have, all I will require."
Then, perhaps, it would be his time to end. He wondered, idly, how this old woman had taken him aside, a traveler on the road. And reduced him to such a state. He was telling secrets of his thoughts he had told no other.
"One thing is better than nothing at all, is it not? Some times, even one thing can be enough." She gently continued to stroke his hand, the motion motherly and loving.
"You seem sane to me, but of course, I cannot claim to know you. There will always be people who are better, those who are worse. Never compare yourself, just strive to be good, that is all anyone can ever ask of you."
She sighed softly, his words weighing heavily on her. How hurt he must be, how damaged she herself was from losing one as close. How easily she could have been him, or how he could have just as easily been her.
They weren't so different.
"You do what you feel you must, dear child. Do what is right in your heart and soul, and no one can ever call you a villain."
"You seem sane to me, but of course, I cannot claim to know you. There will always be people who are better, those who are worse. Never compare yourself, just strive to be good, that is all anyone can ever ask of you."
She sighed softly, his words weighing heavily on her. How hurt he must be, how damaged she herself was from losing one as close. How easily she could have been him, or how he could have just as easily been her.
They weren't so different.
"You do what you feel you must, dear child. Do what is right in your heart and soul, and no one can ever call you a villain."
There was an urge, then. Listening to her. To achieve new purpose in her service. To learn from her. To find a way forward that, before this moment, he had not felt was possible.
A chance meeting on the road. It was impossible. And yet...
He looked at her, into those eyes, brow furrowed. He had no idea what to do, no idea what to say.
Finally, he decided to do what he had done once before, when he had met a woman with a smile that lit his world: trust his instincts.
"Teach me how..." he said, voice cracking.
A chance meeting on the road. It was impossible. And yet...
He looked at her, into those eyes, brow furrowed. He had no idea what to do, no idea what to say.
Finally, he decided to do what he had done once before, when he had met a woman with a smile that lit his world: trust his instincts.
"Teach me how..." he said, voice cracking.
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