video; chalk off spot 3 on Doctor Bingo

[helpline]

[ The comm is obviously the Doctor's. And the background is obviously the Doctor's room in Heropa 11 (if you know what the Doctor's room looks like, that is). But there's some sort of hodge-podge device made up entirely of junk and taking up the majority of the bed. There's a fez sitting on a bedpost because the Doctor has money and Heropa has stores so the Doctor can buy hats. And the person who's grinning at the camera like a maniac is definitely not the Doctor. If it wasn't the lack of eyebrows, it's the bowtie and the fact that this Doctor looks like he'd be grumpy granddad Doctor's kid.

There's also a possum that's hanging out on his shoulders. Yeah, space granddad's affected like HELL due to the current plot. ]

Hellooooooo Heropa! Doctor here, or at least a Doctor, or at least a Doctor that you might not know, though that's the thing, isn't it! I don't know if you know me or not, isn't this fun? [ This Doctor does not shut up. ] But I do know that thanks to a few conversations with a few friends and a little bit of poking around here and there that some things aren't just adding up.

Now, someone mentioned magic. I don't know anything about magic, magic's not my wheelhouse, bother someone else if you want magic, but what I do know about are timelines. People who know people who've got weird memory issues, speak up! Who's affected, who's missing bits and pieces, who's backstories weirdly don't line up with your backstories, this might be a timey wimey problem and I'm the king of timey wimey.

[ There's a pause, while the possum yawns. ] Oh yes! This is Murray, by the way, he's informed me that he's quite happy with his living circumstances though he'd enjoy it if he had a few eggs. I think I'm taking Murray with me if the TARDIS ever were to show up here—he'll be new Handles.

[ another pause before ] Oh and also, I do hope that I wasn't the one who came up with the sonic sunglasses. There's nothing wrong with the screwdriver, screwdrivers are classic, screwdrivers are cool. Tell the other-Doctor if he shows up again that I'm rather put out by the changes! Right, Doctor out!

Comments

[itstheirworld]

Yeah, everybody does maybe at one point. It's interesting that you still do. [is all she'll say to that.]

Well, I liked my privacy more in theory. People are okay, but it's nicer to have your own space. At least it is for me.

[she hasn't forgotten that she said she's on her way. the feed shifts with movement, showing her getting up on her feet to go soon as they finish this talk.]

[helpline]

To each his own, I suppose—even though you're wrong.

[ He's teasing, though. This is a small little teasing smile! ]

video to action, we go!

[itstheirworld]

[maybe it's a good thing she switched to video because that joke otherwise may have been lost to her. and now she can't help but feel herself cave to his odd personality, giving a small smile back.]

Right. To each their own. On my way over to you now.

[and without another word, the feed goes black. that's teenage manners for you and all. 10 maybe 15 minutes later he may hear a knock at his door.]

action!

[helpline]

[ The Doctor opens the door with a big grin. By now, Murray the possum's made his way up to the Doctor's head and is just perched there, not really giving a damn. ]

Hello there Rick's friend! Ready?

[itstheirworld]

[The possum hadn't really garnered a second glance the first time really, however this time she can NOT help but blink at how absolutely ridiculous it looks perched a top his head.]

Uh, hi. My name's Enid, actually. You know you have a possum on your head, right?

[helpline]

Hullo Enid. As I said, I'm the Doctor, the possum's Murray, and of course he's on my head, he likes it up there.

[ The Doctor's just so smiley and so happy and so ridiculous that he gives Enid a grin of his own. ]

[itstheirworld]

So, your name is Doctor? [Strange, but you know, strange here is the new normal.] And you're okay with him, um, Murray being on your head? Well, cool, I guess. Let's get going? Rick will be at the school near here.

[Enid gives a simple gesture towards the exit way, tentatively moving that way.]

[helpline]

As long as Murray's fine with it, I'm fine with it.

[ Noticing that simple gesture, the Doctor casually leaves the house, walking beside Enid like they do this every day. ] And yes, it's the Doctor. A good name, if you ask me.

[itstheirworld]

[She turns her eyes over to glance at the possum again momentarily.] He looks, oddly, okay right there, I'll admit.

[So that's that, she guesses. Focusing more on his name and directing the way now.]

It's original, yeah. I don't know a single other person with that name.

[helpline]

Well you're the only Enid I know so we're going to be original together! [ said with a simple smile. ]

[itstheirworld]

[for the strange cheerful man he seems to be so far, that's oddly sweet. still she tries not to take it as anything too seriously, maybe smiles a little amusedly up at the corners.]

Sure, why not. I can deal with being one of a kind today.

[half joking. in any case, it feels like they're already half way there or more. parts of the city seems to diminish for more of a park path and the Xavier school slowly appears into sight. They'll be there soon and then they can find Rick.

[helpline]

[ The Doctor, of course, has only minimal idea where they're going—he knows vaguely what Heropa looks like, but that's about it. ]

Oh no, you can't deal with being one of a kind, you're always one of a kind. I'll know other Enids, but I'll only know one Enid who wants to help Rick Grimes.

[itstheirworld]

[A laugh.]

Always, huh? You say some strange things, but I guess I can see what you mean in a way. [and it's sweet, but in an attempt to not to let to go to her head, she continues on with:] I am the only Enid who wants to help Rick Grimes.

[Coming up to the entrance of the school, she opens the door wide for him. In this case she's fine with it being the gentlemen first.] He sould just a couple floors up.

[helpline]

[ The Doctor walks inside, looking around at the school before spotting the stairs. Turning back to Enid, he gives her a big smile.. ]

I'll race you up!

[itstheirworld]

Seriously? [she turns her eyes back to the Doctor as if he suddenly turned into "the Kid" and stares, one brow up. the idea definitely has caught her off guard.]

I- I don't think... [um] You're serious?

[helpline]

[ The Doctor grins. They're stairs! Why not! They're stairs, they're there, let's go ahead and race. And then, in one breath, ]

Readysetgo!

[ Sorry Enid, he's already running off towards the stairs, letting out a loud whoop of excitement as he does so. Age apparently ain't nothing but a number. ]

[itstheirworld]

[Of course they're stairs and of course they're there, but she didn't agree to this race! So when he shoots off towards them, one part of her stands there for a second looking at him in belief and the other part of her wonders if this was such a good idea bringing him here after all, now that she is half responsible for a man-child running in the halls.

So of course after that train of thought, she helplessly races to the stairs and up after him.]

Hey! I never said I would race you. [she half shouts from behind. (Now would be a good time for someone to show that did act their age, maybe?)]

[biteouttagrimes]

[ Rick's heading out of the apartment just as the two are racing up the stairs, putting on the closet approximation to a sheriff's hat that he could buy in the store and rearing back with an easy going smile -- entertained by this display. ]

Whoa, whoa. Watch yourselves there.

[ Jovial. Good-natured. Actually happy. That was Rick Grimes pre-apocalypse. ]

[helpline]

[ The Doctor skids to a stop on one of the steps, spinning around in one fluid motion—though there's definitely some wobbling there for a moment. He straightens himself up and grins—see! Not a problem. He's got this. ]

You're Rick Grimes, aren't you? If so, pleasure to meet you, I'm the Doctor. If not, pleasure to meet you anyway!

[itstheirworld]

[Fortunately Enid's a quick runner and not far behind, halting just a few steps below the Doctor. She's right in time to see the energetic man assume right and that by some coincidence they've already found Rick.]

Sorry. [She eyes Rick - of course feeling like she has to apologize for whatever reason (maybe it's that she's responsible in the first place for all the questions the poor memoryless man is about to be pressed with) - then turns her attention to the Doctor, with a half nod.]

Yeah. This is Rick. [and turning her attention back to the former sheriff,] And Rick this is the Doctor. It maybe seem weird, but he wanted to see you.

[And that's all she'll say right now. Anything else, words like 'help' or 'fix you', for all she knows may scare him away. After all, she's aware he probably has zero clue who she is other than a friend of Carl's maybe.]

[biteouttagrimes]

[ The smile fades after the introduction and then when Enid joins him, claiming the doctor wants to see him? He squints in confusion. ]

But...I'm not sick? I feel perfectly fine, actually. So, I don't want to waste your time, Doctor....

[ Did he catch a name other than the Doctor? ]

[helpline]

You might not feel sick, but I'm afraid that's one of the symptoms! There's a bug going around, very timey wimey, messes with your memories but makes you feel perfectly fine and why on Earth didn't I bring the sonic sunglasses, you were supposed to remind me about them!

[ The Doctor turns to look at Murray the possum who, having jumped off the Doctor's shoulder when he started running, is now bounding up the stairs behind Enid and the Doctor.

It's gonna get pretty weird pretty fast, Rick. ]

[biteouttagrimes]

[ Why is there a possum? Rick glances at Enid, as though she can shed some light on what's going on. But he rubs the back of his neck. ]

Your...possum talks to you?

[ What sort of quack had Enid brought him? It's a good thing Rick has infinitely more patience now than he does in his normal state. ]

I'm sorry. I'm not following what it is you're trying to do here. Sonic sunglasses?

[itstheirworld]

[Honestly, if she could follow any of what was going on here, she'd try to bridge the gap, but the possum and the Doctor believing he can talk to the possum suddenly makes the situation 100x more weird. She finds she doesn't know what to say next. All she can hope is that the Doctor has an explanation he's going to get to. And sometime soon. ]

[helpline]

What I'm trying to do is see what's weird. You see, something's going on here. I've had my memory muddled with and other people have had theirs muddled with also. The best way to figure out how to fix the memory muddle is to check with other people whose memories don't match up with other people's memories—and Enid suggested I start here!

[ he's TECHNICALLY not lying. ]