[open to all] Room full of people in your head

[applesaucemod]

The rift has gotten bored, and has decided it's time to bring people together for another dream party.

This time, when you find yourself within the dream, you'll be somewhere familiar. Perhaps somewhere you feel safe or at home, some place you miss, or were particularly happy at some point in your life. It might not be the same place every time you come back here, though.

There will also be a door where there didn't use to be one, even if there's no wall to surround it. If you go through this door, you will find yourself in endless simple corridor, lined with unmarked doors. And if you go through them, you'll pay a visit to someone else's room.


[There will monthly Dreaming party post like this. Same procedure as last time. Non-members welcome to tag in!]

Comments

[alwaysalright]

"'fraid not," the Doctor answers cheerfully, stepping inside the room and looking about. It's pretty cozy - wonder which one of them decorated it.

"This is nice," he comments, leaning against the wall to look out the window. He thinks he might recognise where they are from the stars.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew stares. He blinks, willing the image of the other man away, then stares a bit more.

"...You." How is the Doctor aboard their space-flat?

[alwaysalright]

"Hullo," he answers, looking over at Andrew with a smile. It doesn't occur to him that the reason he's so surprised is because he hasn't realised it's a dream. He sometimes forgets Andrew doesn't have his mental capabilities.

"I mean, it's a bit cramped, of course, but when you can't do transdimensional engineering, you sort of take what you can get. Made a nice home of it, though." He walks over and shoves Andrew's feet off the couch so he can get room, and flops down in the spot next to him. "Ooh, Lion King!"

[bluesuit_handy]

"There's more," protests Andrew. "This isn't the whole thing."

Though believe him, he's well aware how titchy the ship is compared to the TARDIS. He's spent many a day bouncing off these walls, bored out of his magnificent little mind. He budges up, though he shoots the Doctor a somewhat resentful look over it. "...How did you get in here?" he asks, befuddled.

[alwaysalright]

"Ooh, I love this bit," the Doctor says excitedly as Be Prepared begins, though it's unclear whether he's ignoring Andrew or is simply distracted. He seems to realise he spoke after a moment though.

"Hmm?" Ohhh. Alright, so he hasn't caught on yet. "Oh you know, parked the TARDIS in the bedroom. Me and James took a few trips first though, you know, the usual, Crimson Nebula, fourth moon of Athens, the carousel of Tharbad. Nearly got executed by the Goblin King of Nengel. No big deal."

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew may have unconsciously looped the film to watch this portion of it a few times already. If he has, he doesn't remember, though there's definitely a feeling of satisfaction as it comes on.

Or there would be, if he weren't busy being shocked and horrified. "What?!" he squawks, twisting to look at the hatchway to the rest of the ship. "You can't just run off with him!" he protests, more than a little hurt. "He's not yours!"

[alwaysalright]

"What, and he belongs to you?" he asks, torn between amusement and confusion at the phrasing. "The man can't make his own choices?"

He's not intending to keep up the charade for very long, though.

[bluesuit_handy]

"Yes," insists Andrew, not seeing anything strange about that. Were he being honest, though, he'd have to admit that it's him who belongs to James. He likes to think it works the other way around, too, in perhaps a slightly less objectifying way.

[alwaysalright]

The Doctor's amusement fades a little, replaced by a frown. "Really? So he's denied any autonomy? Not allowed to go anywhere without your approval?" he asks, just a bit sternly. "Companions wander off, that's what they do."

[bluesuit_handy]

"That's not what I meant, you prawn," says Andrew defensively. "He's -- we're -- it's not like that."

[alwaysalright]

The Doctor rolls his eyes. He's gotten bored pursuing this now. "Whatever. Anyway, I didn't steal him. He's not here. Neither is the TARDIS. You're dreaming. We're dreaming." He reaches over and gives Andrew's forehead a flick.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew flinches, his gaze remaining uncomprehending for a split second. Then understanding lights his eyes, and he immediately launches into a good, hearty sulk.

"You took your time mentioning that," he complains.

[alwaysalright]

"Well, I thought basic logic or awareness of the presence of other minds all around you would present itself to you eventually, but apparently not," he answers with a shrug, and pushes himself to his feet.

"Come on, no point sitting around. There's an endless amount of rooms to explore," he says, heading through the door, behind which there is a bright corridor, not at all what's supposed to be there were this the real ship.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew seethes. "Maybe I'd rather stay here and watch the Lion King," he retorts sharply. He wouldn't -- much as he loves the film, exploring always wins -- but whether he wants to explore with the Doctor is much more dubious.

He stays on the couch, but turns to see where the Doctor goes. Staring out into the corridor, he tries to tell himself he isn't curious...but can soon be seen clambering over the sofa to follow.

[alwaysalright]

The Doctor looks around, trying to decide on a door, and looks back to see Andrew's still rather sour expression as he follows.

"Blimey, didn't think you'd take me that seriously. You do know I've met James the grand total of once and have no intention of taking him anywhere? I can make my own friends, I don't need to steal yours."

[bluesuit_handy]

"What, are you saying you wouldn't want him?" asks Andrew, being as thoroughly unreasonable as he can. It's really rather hard to feel wonder at the opportunity for exploration when he's so busy feeling tetchy about the Doctor being...the Doctor.

[alwaysalright]

"I'm sure he's lovely, but I don't know him, and I'm pretty sure one of us is enough for him to deal with. It seems to be for most people," he answers, refusing to be riled by Andrew's antagonism.

He pauses a bit and sighs, rembering the TARDIS telling him to try to be nice to Andrew. "Look, sorry I didn't tell you right away. And that I invited myself into your ship," he says, not looking at Andrew. See, he can make actual apologies for being a prat. Don't expect it to be a habit, though.

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew is building up to reply that James wouldn't even want the Doctor at all when he can have Andrew (though then why was Andrew so worried that James really had run off with the Time Lord?). He bites it back, though, in favor of gawking at the Doctor and his unexpected apology.

He swallows and looks away himself. "Dream logic isn't like basic logic," he says, protesting an earlier comment that still stings rather than accepting the apology. He wonders whether the Doctor really understands that -- if 'waking up' here is really that much easier for him than it is for Andrew.

[alwaysalright]

Well, because Andrew doesn't have a TARDIS. Also, probably, Andrew's crippling self-esteem issues might have something to do with it. Though James would still choose Andrew without a moment's hesitation.

"I know," the Doctor accepts, hoping that will be the end of it. And to provide them with some distraction, he heads a little way down the hall and opens a door at random, heading through.

[bluesuit_handy]

Crippling self esteem issues? In James's Andrew?

He hesitates, feelings still hurt. An acknowledgement isn't an apology, but -- he winces, remembering how upset the TARDIS had been about him not getting along with the Doctor. He can try for her, can't he? Just for a little while. Making a face and telling himself she owes him for this, he follows the Doctor through the door.

[alwaysalright]

The Doctor smiles a little when he sees Andrew following. At this point he could've easily explored on his own, so it's nice to know he's not that terrible company.

"This is curious," he says, nodding at the room they've entered. All the surfaces are black and shining smooth, and it looks more like a modern tomb or possibly a museum, than a home of any kind. "All the other places have been a lot more welcoming." He pauses a bit, considering whether to say. "I was back on Gallifrey when I got here."

[bluesuit_handy]

Andrew's breath catches. Gallifrey. Home, though the memories of it are so distant now that only vague outlines and the sharpest highlights come to mind at the name of it. He reaches out and gives the Doctor the briefest of pats on the shoulder before turning to examine the nearest shining surface.

"Welcoming?" he asks. "Where else have you been?"

He reaches into his jacket pocket for his brainy specs and slips them onto his nose. They're not needed in a dream, but he's gone and got used to actually using them for more than looking brainy. "Doesn't look like somewhere someone would live," he notes. "Did the other rooms have residents?"

[alwaysalright]

The pat catches him by surprise - though he has a suspicion the TARDIS has had a Conversation with Andrew as well. Andrew's also the only one around, besides the TARDIS herself, who understands the significance of their home planet. It's different for people like Daine, whose home and friends and family is still out there somewhere.

"Couple other places, some had people in them, some didn't. They weren't all rooms, though, some were outdoors. But there was definitely a homey feeling. This place feels..." he trails off, and gives a shudder.

[bluesuit_handy]

The trouble with hating someone who's basically yourself is that it's difficult not to have flashes of empathy now and then. And, well, there's the whole this-is-upsetting-his-favorite-ship business.

"Not homey," he agrees in conclusion. If the Doctor is feeling some sort of telepathic malevolence, Andrew is missing it. The room has an uneasy, uncomfortable feeling for him, though, as if he's missing something important...and disquieting. "Further in?" he suggests, displaying an utter lack of good sense.

[alwaysalright]

"Mmm," the Doctor agrees after a moment. Good sense has never been their strongest suit, and it just gets worse with being landlocked.

If there is something unfriendly here, better they discover it than some other poor dreamer wanders in and gets in trouble.

He shoves his hands in his pocket and wanders further. More of the same, really, though the room seems to grow larger. After a moment he notices an alcove, and feels for a moment like there's ice in his stomach. He shakes the feeling off and walks straight for it. Inside there's a glass sphere, floating quietly in midair, filled with calmly swirling black smoke. "That's ominous," he comments. This is definitely the source of the feeling.