Pre-θ 8 - Forgiveness

[bit_impossible]

[ooc: Before the Recursive Mind plot.]

[his shoulder twinges slightly, making him wince every now and then from the pain emanating from the wound every time he moves his arm in any single way. he really wishes it would just hurry up and heal; he rather likes having full range of motion for both arms. after checking the bar, he figured that it's either the library or the kitchen that he should check next but he decides to be contrary to such thoughts on the off-chance that Oliver didn't go there and headed to the forest instead. and that's where he is now, dodging branches and listening to the river burbling softly off in the distance.

well...he's listening for anything, really: the rustle of leaves, the crunching of twigs underfoot, anything.

and on the off-chance that anything making those noises hears him in any way, he decides to speak while he keeps an eye out for any movement. his voice is in its normal timbre but with a touch of gentleness in its tone.]

Ollie, if you can hear me--and I really hope you do otherwise this would sound incredibly silly and ridiculous--I need you to listen. I mean, it's not like I don't talk out loud to myself half the time anyway, but it's always nice that someone's on the receiving end of things I've got to say. Like now, for instance.

Hopefully just from the sound of my voice and my being here is enough. I'm all right, just like I said I'd be. But the one thing I didn't check before I left was how well you were. I need you to see that everything is all right--and that you can come home. That's why I'm here, speaking to the trees and flowers and the river nearby, and if you're not here, I'll go entertain an entire library of books next. Maybe I ought to have gone there first, but I kind of had a feeling you might not have gone there for any particular long length of time, not after those creatures had invaded.

I want you to come home, Ollie.

Comments

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is sitting by a tree not far from where the Doctor is speaking to the wildlife. it's not his usual forest spot, but that's the point, really. he's been avoiding the places anyone would expect him to be, not to mention anywhere other people might spend much time. after what happened, he's afraid to face anyone--but most of all the Doctor]

[he was looking aimlessly through photos on his datapad, but when he hears the Doctor's voice, he stops cold. as the Doctor goes on, however, his grip on the datapad tightens, and his eyes begin to glisten. he slips the datapad into a pocket, standing. for a moment, he debates whether to go toward or away from the Doctor's voice. but after hearing those words, he knows he can't run from this. taking a deep breath to steel himself, he heads uncertainly between the trees toward the sound of the Doctor's voice]

[it doesn't take him long to get there. he stops the minute he sees the man, staying at a distance. Oliver's current appearance is like that of a frightened rabbit, not to mention rather disheveled. there is also a bit of a welt on his left temple--the partially-healed result of his failed attempt to help Donna. but he isn't thinking about that right now. mostly, he just isn't sure what to say, so he goes for the first thing that comes to mind]

I'm here.

...how's your arm?

[bit_impossible]

[he starts to smile but it fades when he sees Oliver's state. softly] I'm fine. Still a bit stiff. [starts to move his right arm, but he winces and stops before he can move it to even wave a little] Well, maybe a little more than "a bit". But what happened to you?

[oliverplus]

[frowns worriedly, but at least that gives him the impetus to move a little closer, trying to get a look at the Doctor's arm] Did you get it seen to?

Ah...I... [for once, it's not the injury itself that he's embarrassed and upset about. he lowers his gaze in shame, his response soft] I couldn't stop the watch.

[bit_impossible]

Course, I did! [pulls out the hospital bracelet from his pocket] See? If I hadn't, well...I'd be a new man with a daft bowtie. But I did, and look! I'm still me. Only got out of hospital, ohhhh... [trails off, thinking]...maybe a day or two ago cumulatively, hence the stiffness. [pulls a slight face there as he knows that's a bold-faced lie]

But enough about me. [starts walking slowly towards Oliver] It's all right that you didn't. You tried right? I hope that knock to your noggin isn't from you tripping and falling against a particularly harmful clock gear.

[oliverplus]

[cringes at that reminder of how badly he injured the Doctor] I... [shakes his head. "I'm sorry" just doesn't cut it] I hope it heals up soon.

[takes a few steps back] It's not! I-I don't even know what happened! Donna... [shakes his head again] She was gone when I woke up. I don't know if...if...

[bit_impossible]

[wags a finger at him.] Don't you dare. I told you it wasn't your fault what happened to me.

[keeps on walking towards him] Ollie, you're here, aren't you? The others are out as well. Whatever you did helped her. [ignores the fact that that name sounds familiar]

[oliverplus]

[takes another nervous step back] I-I know! [but it doesn't change what he thinks]

But how do you know? [he didn't see anyone on his way out, but he wishes he could be sure]

[bit_impossible]

No. No, you don't know, or else you wouldn't keep moving away from me. [slips his good hand into his pocket, giving Oliver a knowing look]

I know because I've spoken to others who've been in the maze. Like Riku, he's fine. And Morgana as well, though she's a bit injured.

[oliverplus]

[avoids his gaze, saying nothing]

[but he looks back up at that, surprised] You have!? It's not bad, is it? She'll be all right?

[bit_impossible]

[he smiles easily] Oh yeah. She's a fighter, that one. Fought two of those clockwork warriors on her own, you know.

[oliverplus]

[sighs in relief and nods] Yeah. Okay, that's good. Wow. [he couldn't even handle a few insects]

[bit_impossible]

Well, helps when you're adept with a sword. But! Moving on...well, moving back, anyway, to you. I meant what I said about wanting you to come back with me, and from the looks of things, you need a bit of looking to, even if that wound is old.

[oliverplus]

[fidgets uncomfortably, looking down in such a way as to attempt to hide the bump from the Doctor's view] It's fine. Really.

I don't...I'm not sure if that's a good idea...

[bit_impossible]

Oliver Day, if you even think of giving me the speech you gave me back all those years ago...

[oliverplus]

No! I just... [avoids his gaze, shifting uncomfortably] I'm not sure I'm ready.

[bit_impossible]

[arches an eyebrow, taking a step forward] Ready for...what, exactly? Seeing the universe? Travelling in time? You can't stay here forever. You've got to understand that bad things happen. Out of all my companions, you've been very lucky not to have met some of the more dangerous enemies I've got skulking around in the dark corners of the universe. They make the Puppeteer and that watch spirit look like fluffy rabbits.

[oliverplus]

[now that hit a nerve. Oliver snaps his gaze up to him] That's just it! I couldn't do anything about the watch or the Puppeteer. What good am I gonna be to...to anybody!?

[bit_impossible]

[frowns] Do you think that's all that matters to me? How well someone can fight and defend themselves?

[oliverplus]

No! But--that doesn't mean it isn't important! If you just have to keep saving me...

[bit_impossible]

Then I keep saving you. I'd rather dent your pride than see you get harmed or die in the process!

[oliverplus]

But if that's all that happens...what good am I!?

[bit_impossible]

[exasperatedly] Again, do you think that's all that matters? I don't mean for us to get into the dangers that we run into; they just happen--and the same can definitely be said for here. [sighs] You have to learn that some things just simply aren't in your control and you can only run away from them for so long.

[oliverplus]

I--I'm not... [but he is running away, and he knows it. he sighs, his shoulders sagging as the fight goes out of him. he avoids the Doctor's gaze again] I don't know what to do.

[bit_impossible]

[walks up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder] Come home to the TARDIS. I think that's a good first step.

[oliverplus]

[flinches] But after what I did... [he shakes his head, knowing what the Doctor will have to say to that. gives him a small, embarrassed smile] Is it silly I'm afraid of facing Harriet?