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[just_the_doctor]

Here's a face that's been absent of late.

When the Doctor walks into Milliways today, though, there are two notably strange things about it. First is that he comes in through the front door instead of the back door as usual. And second, he seems completely confused and baffled by what he's seeing.

Milliways, John Smith. John Smith, Milliways.


[ooc: This is the Doctor circa "Human Nature", so he will read as completely human to anyone who's looking.]

[tags: Professor River Song]

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[hell_in_highheels]

She can't help but laugh, even if it is feeble and fleeting. "Damn it all, I said I'm fine. You -- never listened to me. You're still not listening."

It's a lie, of course. He listened, he always listened. Just in the end, he had other priorities.

As he draws close, looking at her hand, her voice comes out in a whisper. "What's happened to you, @? Why don't you remember who you are?"

[ooc: @ refers to his name, something only the two of them would know.]

[just_the_doctor]

The name stings his ears. It's something he feels he should recognize, but the moment passes too quickly.

"I'm who I've always been," he re-asserts softly. "I'm just a teacher."

His dreams say otherwise, but who listens to dreams?

"I almost wish I were this man you think I am. It's clear you care for him very much."

[hell_in_highheels]

Her voice is still the barest whisper. "I did. I do. That's what I wanted to tell you. I -- it's complicated. Suffice it to say, I'm with someone else. I belong to him now."

Her resolve holds somehow. Later she'll have a little meltdown, she knows, but after a hundred years of wondering how this conversation would go, it's actually a lot easier than she imagined it would be.

"But you don't know me, don't know yourself, so I'm not sure it even matters."

[just_the_doctor]

She's hurting, that much is clear. And John doesn't have the heart to reiterate that he's not this doctor she thinks he is.

He takes her hand -- the uninjured one -- gently in both of his. "I'm sure he'd understand."

[hell_in_highheels]

Another weak laugh and she's scrubbing at her eyes with the back of her damaged hand. She grips his hand fiercely.

"He'd be infuriatingly gracious about it, I'm sure. Just like you are now."

And then, in a heartbeat, it's too much for her to bear, looking at him, feeling his hand in hers. In the past, her first instinct would have been to stay, to help him find out just what precisely had gone sideways this time. But he's the Doctor. No doubt whoever his current companion is will come trundling along behind to clean up this mess. Either that or he'll unravel it himself. He has a gift for getting himself into and out of these tight spots.

The last thing he needs is her help. She bites her lip, taking her hand back.

"I'm sorry, so so sorry. About the chin. About everything. So sorry. Professor Smith. Please forgive me."

[just_the_doctor]

"Yes, yes, of course," he says, waving a hand nonchalantly. "Think nothing of it." Whoever this doctor fellow is, he's certainly got a lot to answer for.

[hell_in_highheels]

She gives him one last, long look, slowly stepping back.

They promised they would never say goodbye.

"Until next time, pretty boy. Keep yourself safe."