Curiouser and curiouser [open to multiple]

[theoldgirl]

The TARDIS doesn't sleep, and she certainly doesn't dream, except under very rare and usually adverse circumstances. But with the Doctor safely tucked away in one of her bedrooms, catching up on his sleep and comforting her by his presence alone, she does allow herself to relax enough to do something akin to dozing. Many of her systems power down to stand-by, she becomes less aware of her surroundings, and for a while she thinks nothing in particular.

To her surprise, she suddenly feels something tugging at her awareness, a telepathic current that, upon more conscious inspection, doesn't appear to be coming from anywhere. Curiosity piqued, she allows the current to draw her focus away, though not before making sure it can't affect her mind against her will. What is it going to show her?

Comments

[has_a_horn]

Okay, so he was mocking. Just a teensy bit. He turns the picture around to look at it himself. "Seems like a common face around here." he says, while still looking at the photo. The Doctor is good-looking, he decides, if a bit mad and excitable. So different from Peter, whom he knows a little better.

"I liked him." He's hoping to deflate that defensive posturing of hers, but it is the truth. He wouldn't mind seeing the two of them working through a theory or two, his mania bouncing off of her solid logic. It'd certainly be interesting to watch. For a moment, he wonders if it's taboo for a ship and its pilot to get romantic, but as said ship is still in his head-space, he doesn't dare carry that thought very far.

When he finally looks up, it's with a smirk lifting the corner of his mouth. "Has he figured out why he's manifesting kittens yet?"

[theoldgirl]

What, does he want to watch them getting romantic? As though she would mind going on about her relationship with the Doctor at length. But as it is, she decides to believe Gabriel's placation and is visibly mollified. Just don't get any ideas about talking badly of him, at least until she's more comfortable with you.

At the mention of the kittens she can't help shaking her head in both amusement and uncertainty. "He wasn't even aware he was the source until I told him. It is a side effect of the rift, though a very odd one." She's just not at all comfortable with the rift changing people.

[has_a_horn]

He'd rather get involved, but sure, he's willing to make sacrifices.

Gabriel wasn't entirely sure that the Doctor had been the one behind the kitten appearances, but the TARDIS handily confirms it for him. His initial suspicion had been that someone had taken to creatively surveilling the Doctor, but with no one else being followed by rogue kittens, it was a long shot. "Seen any other interesting side effects?"

[theoldgirl]

"Only enhanced telepathy in humans, which is at least more in line with what rifts of this kind normally do." For someone who loves exploration and adventure, she can get pretty prissy about cosmic laws and phenomena not behaving the way they 'should'. It's unpredictable and incomprehensible, two things she does very badly with. But, she supposes reluctantly, possibly still worth learning more about. "The Doctor may have encountered others. Have you?"

[has_a_horn]

"Oh yeah. Telepathy, definitely. Spontaneous teleportation. Time reversal." He preempts what he knows is going to be a request for clarification. "The time reversal isn't impressive. Minutes."

He scratches the side of his face, considering. "Could be triggered by strong emotions. The teleportation too." Yeah, Gabriel has a tendency of eliciting strong emotions from people. Call it a gift.

[theoldgirl]

Her face darkens at the mention of time manipulation powers in the hands of someone probably completely inexperienced and irresponsible, but it is reassuring to hear it isn't significant. She thinks she may have felt something like it not long ago, but she hadn't realized what it was amongst all the other anomalies she's confronted with here, which means it must be negligible.

She considers Gabriel's suggestion of a trigger. "That could apply to the feline manifestations as well, I will have to ask the Doctor." They did appear when her and him had just reunited and were amplifying each other's happiness, but one occurrence is hardly enough data to support a theory. "Speaking of whom, he will be waking up soon, I should return my focus to him." She gives him a smile and a sincerely friendly brush against his mind. "I enjoyed speaking with you, Gabriel."

[has_a_horn]

He nods back to her, returning her psychic gesture more out of reflex than any real intent. It's the psychic equivalent of giving an awkward pat on the back to someone hugging you. The thing is, it's been so long since he's done any communication that way that it's become unusual for him. "Right back atcha," he adds, and smiles as she disappears from view.

He sits for a moment enjoying the Venetian light before stepping out of the dream himself.