𝐃𝐑. 𝐖𝐇𝐎 — 𝙄𝙉 𝘼𝙉 𝐄𝐗𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝙒𝙄𝙏𝙃 . . . ❓

you can hardly expect us to just sit around all day. amir and cassandra, they're only human! they get bored terribly easily. attention spans like mayflies, and they have the most--

my goodness! valerie! that shirt! it suits you perfectly! what an excellent colour. where *did* you find it?

well, closer to number 2. for this face, anyway.

of course i don't have favourite companions! don't be ridiculous.

valerie, are you a child? no? then don't act like one.

that's not a reason.

why not?

powerful word, goop. of course, you're quite right -- you simply cannot beat wensleydale.

what about acoutrements? what sort of crackers do you prefer?

i'll do what i like, actually. it's my ship.

oh, *that old chestnut*!

don't worry about that. i've sent him on an errand to find ingredients for the cure, but really he just needs to nap it off. i think he needs a nap, don't you? always so . . . *high energy*!

is that so? ( turning to face her, genuinely interested. ) what's your top five?

antidote for which one?

( also nibbling. ) mmmmmm, provolone. i knew the silurian that invented provolone. curiously, his name was grouting.

( a toothpick somehow magically in his mouth. ) yeah, no, i dig it baby. it's cool. real cool. jazz is *ice cold*, lemme tell you. i'm talkin' *cold homey canine*.

jazz.

that's a tangent.

don't worry. i'm the doctor, and i come in peace.

" wednesday? *really*? wednesday, already? you're sure? i had a pasta bake in the oven that was supposed to come out on monday!" tut. he waves a hand dismissively. " ah, well . . . these things have a way of sorting themselves out. come and see the tardis with me? "

cheese? this is a lovely cheeseboard. you know, cassie, i've always said: there's nothing in life a nice glass of port and a cheeseboard can't fix.

if only i knew a detective that could blow this whole case wide open for us.

well no, because i'm also unbound, we're the same timeline, and i'm older, all of this has been *VERY clearly stated* . . .

i'm the oldest, so i take charge!

well, have *you* ever seen him string a thought together that wasn't about pinball?

mmmm, of course not. i doubt he even processed what you said.

well don't let cassie and amir hear you saying that!

" yes . . . i recall, " he says, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.

" i didn't say i *forgot* you. i never forget a friend. no, i needn't reach back. but when you're *my age* . . . well, you have to be selective with memory. the way people move through me, *that's* what counts. "

the doctor tilts his head slightly, looking her over. " clara was a very long time ago. and she certainly didn't wear outfits like that. or did she? i couldn't tell you. like i say, it was a very long time ago. "

how do you know about my haemovore cure?

IN ***THAT*** OUTFIT????

HIM?

( producing a striped, red and white paper bag, full to the brim with firm, pink and yellow pear-shaped confections. he pops one in his mouth himself. )

mmmm. suck, don't swallow. they're famously hard.

mmm, i believe you. pear drop?

she's only being greedy, tulip. you've already walked with her!