for talentedscavenger

[thatsortofman]

Occasionally the TARDIS has a mind of its own. More than occasionally, really. Details. The important thing is, she so seldom steers him wrong that he's learned long ago -- lifetimes ago in fact -- to listen to her, and generally not to fight the unexpected detours.

So. Unexpected stop. But an interesting one.

He opens the door to an odd little island, more crag and cliff than anything else. But it's green and bright, the sound and scent of the sea is in the air and--

"Oi. Hey! Who invited you lot in?" He turns to face the trio of porgs that have decided his TARDIS is a new and fascinating cave in need of exploring. "Rude, you know, not even knocking. C'mon now. Out then. Shoo."

The shooing goes on longer than he cares to admit, and is only moderately successful. He's probably making enough noise that he'll undoubtedly attract attention -- and from more than just the cute-if-dumb little bird things that are intent on turning his engine room into a new roosting ground.

Comments

[talentedscavenger]

There's a shift in the Force, like a ripple that stretches further and further out to catch the attention of one Jedi-in-training. Luke is being stubborn. He won't tell her what's going on, or show her more. He's dodging questions, and while she feels a tug to go down towards the shoreline to that inky darkness to see what's there, she follows that ripple. It could be something sent by the First Order--though, if that were the case, they would more than likely shoot first than anything else.

Carefully, she moved to the source of disruption. There are several porgs that have a sense of adventure, going into the cave and unintentionally lead Rey to where she needs to be. She blinks, unsure if what she's seeing is real. That blue box...it's familiar, from the reaches of her childhood that she locked away. Some memories were too painful to keep and had to be stored.

"Who's there?" she called out, creeping closer to the weird contraption. How do I know you?

"Show yourself!" she demanded, looking at the opened door, but not daring to poke her head inside.

[thatsortofman]

More company. But slightly larger company. More human-shaped company rather than these odd little vaguely avian... critters. Not that he has anything against critters. Critters are delightful. But not critters who invite themselves into his TARDIS without explanation. He stops in his porg-chasing to look up and towards the sound of the voice. Right yes, better say hello to the neighbors.

The Doctor pokes his head out the door of the TARDIS, all smiles. "Hi there. Sorry, probably intruding, right? I've got a habit of that. Is this your cave?"

He paused and glanced back over his shoulder. "Ooh, or are these your birds? You are welcome to have them back." More than welcome. His gaze swung around once more and he found himself looking at the young woman. Familiar. He couldn't place her face, but something about it, about her, was entirely familiar.

[talentedscavenger]

Well, Rey can't say that she was expecting to see someone pop their head out like there was nothing wrong with what they were doing. Granted, there wasn't. Luke didn't own the island, and their...box didn't have the markings of the First Order. However, she wasn't going to lower her guard. This could all be a trap, but deep down she knew that wasn't the case.

"No...?" A peculiar question since no one could outright own a cave, but that's besides the point. Looking over her shoulder she saw there were more porgs waddling into the area, all of them wanting to take a look at the mythical blue box that showed up out of nowhere.

"It's not my cave, and the porgs don't belong to me. They're native to Ahch-To." The planet they're on, which was as close to being in the middle of nowhere as Jakku. Her gaze didn't leave the other's, trying to pinpoint where she had seen him before, or if she was making things up in her head.

"Who are you?" Better yet, where was his alliance? She wasn't about to shoot then ask questions, wanting to give the weird man the benefit of the doubt.

"What are you doing here?"

[thatsortofman]

At this point, he gives up on trying to keep the TARIDS porg-free. He'll chase them out later if he has to, but for now he's more interested in the young woman looking at him like she's not quite sure whether or not he's here to attack her. Stepping out of the TARDIS, he draws the door shut behind him before leaning back against it, all casual ease for the moment.

"Ahch-To," he repeats, clucking his tongue. "Never been to Achch-To before. Little place, isn't it? Little, sleepy, quaint..." hardly a blip in the records of the universe. He glances over his shoulder at the TARDIS, wondering what exactly had landed them here. It's a mystery, but that's half the fun.

"I'm the Doctor," he answered by way of explanation, straightening up and looking around the cave and into what he could glimpse of the world outside. "And, well, oddly enough I'm not certain. But I'll know it when I see it." A beat. "Probably." Mots probably. "And what's your name then?"

[talentedscavenger]

Rey isn't sure if she should take offense for how he's describing the planet. Yes, it's quaint, but there's a strong sense of the Force about it. There's maybe some history here. Luke said the Jedi had been here before, but she wasn't about to bring that up for someone who could possibly be with the First Order.

Damnit, if he was First Order then they would have to leave immediately.

"It's little compared to other places, yeah." But it had more life on it than Jakku. Then again, Jakku was a desert planet for a reason.

Confusion fades away on her surprise to one of shock. The Doctor? A Doctor? Someone on the med team, but why would they be here? Was the Resistance in need of something? More puzzle pieces that weren't lining up to give her the full picture. But then it comes to her in a flash, the Force guiding her, prying out a small memory of her as a young child, looking up at a tall man who called himself the Doctor.

Kindness. Soft smiles...and sometimes food. Sometimes stories that helped ease the loneliness she felt.

"Doctor..." the name leaves her lips in a sort of awe manner, because this doesn't make sense, but it's starting to?

"Rey..my name is Rey." And, dear Light. He was real? She thought she made him up!

"You're real. You and that blue box."

[thatsortofman]

As if he somehow realizes her reaction to little, well, he's quick to add, with the faintest shade of a knowing grin. "Nothing wrong with little, you know. Great things, small packages. You know the saying. And something here very much wanted me to land here. It called right out to us."

He pats the big blue box affectionately.

Then however, he notices the way her expression changes, and in his experience, that usually means something has come to mind in an unexpected fashion. He's used to unexpected. In many ways that's what he trades in, if he trades in anything. But he doesn't know what to make of this. Not at first anyway, not until she speaks his name, not until she gives hers.

It's not an uncommon name, simple and strong enough that various cultures have latched onto it throughout the galaxies. But she speaks the name and he's reminded of a little girl with the same dark eyes currently staring back at him in surprise. His own expression rather matches hers. He'd wandered in and out of her timeline for a while, until he'd rather abruptly found himself blocked out from it, some trick of a time lock that wouldn't allow for any interference. It's been longer for her than it has for him, but that's the trick of the time traveler. None of that stops a smile from blossoming over his face. And it may have been ages, but he's a hugger. Rey will find herself swept up in an embrace. "Rey! Look at you... all grown up! And not on Jakku."

[talentedscavenger]

Rey is startled that the Doctor moved so quickly towards her, embracing her without a second thought. The only one to have done that had been Finn. He had come back for her on Starkiller base. The Doctor didn’t make such a promise to her, she thought he was made up!

Now, he’s real and now....well, she’s unsure what that means but she’s happy nonetheless. A little bit of hope after a long day of trying to get Luke to go back to Leia.

“No not on Jakku,” she replied softly, hugging him as best as she could. After a moment she began to pull back, looking him over.

“You haven’t changed at all. How-!! You weren’t followed were you?”

[thatsortofman]

The Doctor steps back now, taking a moment to look her over, like he's trying to reconcile the young woman in front of him with the little girl he'd known. He smiles though, expression downright soft. He's glad she's made it, really, given that what he remembers of her is a little girl so lonely and on her own, so small on such a barren and unforgiving world.

"Followed?" He can't help but look amused, glancing back at the TARDIS. "If anyone followed the TARDIS, I'd actually want to meet them. Give them a gold star or two. But no, no one else in the timestream. Which answers your other question, I think. I took a bit of a shortcut to be here."

And Rey had walked the longer road, through the actual flow of time as it happened rather than around it.

[talentedscavenger]

Confusion danced across her face hearing he wanted to meet whoever followed him in that box, the TARDIS. No, that wasn't a good thing. Not at all! If the First Order found them, then they were in real trouble. Then again, the Doctor, while looking humanoid, was not human. He was something else--and possibly a bit mad if memory served? Hard to tell right now.

"No, not them. The First Order. The ones who follow the same objective as the Empire..." Did that ring any bells for him? If he lived so long, or been through different areas (time couldn't be traveled through, could it?) then he should have heard of them. The terror the inflicted, and the harm they caused.

"How, or why are you here? All these years you were gone and now...you're back?" How long and would she ever see him again? Never mind that more porgs will moving into the TARDIS.

[thatsortofman]

The Doctor's eyes widened, barely perceptible, but his expression grew somber rather abruptly. "You're caught up in that. That's why your timeline got all strange and locked for a while there. Ah yes... that makes sense. Oh that makes sense. I should've seen it." If that was true, if this was in the midst of the rise of the First Order -- not an organization he was fond of, mind, given their penchant for raining down death and destruction and keeping a stranglehold on freedom -- then this was a very dangerous spot for anyone to be in.

Some of the harder lines of his expression softened into a smile, tinged at the edges with a bit of sadness. "All those years. Yeah. Not really my intention. I expected to pop back in again, but something was keeping the TARDIS out. Something about your particular timeline. But here I am, so that's changed too." Whatever she had been meant to do, she must be firmly on that road now.

"I'm here because something called me. Something about this place." Something about the Force, in all likelihood, but that wasn't the terminology he was used to.

[talentedscavenger]

"Yes, them..." She looked down for a moment, thinking back to how they barely made it out a live from Starkiller Base. How Finn had risked himself to keep her safe. Then, there was losing Han. A good friend, someone who offered her a job...and how Ren could've done that to his father, she didn't know.

Rey looked back, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips. He wanted to come back, but couldn't. He wanted to return, and that....warmed her heart a little. But, he was in danger now. Even being here, he's presence may have alerted Snoke or Ren. She couldn't have anyone else get hurt--especially someone who was as critical as the Doctor himself.

"The Force, perhaps? It's very strong here, but you should go. You need to go. I don't want anything to happen to--!" Suddenly there was a crash and the sound of porgs crying. The curious birds were playing around with the TARDIS.

sorry for the delay!

[thatsortofman]

"Yes. Yes, that's the word for it, isn't it?" He looks surprised at being told to go though, opening his mouth to protest when... there's that crash. Oh. Not good.

He winces and offers her a sheepish grin. "Pardon me. Just a moment." And with that he opened the door wider and ducked inside, pausing to poke his head out, "You're welcome to come in while I start evicting my new guests."

Because he cannot have them hopping on the TARDIS' control panel. That could end so badly for so many porgs. And people. Maybe even galaxies? Either way, best not to chance it. When and if Rey does step inside, he'll continue chattering. "You don't need to worry about me, you know. Something called me here, and I go where I'm needed. Sort of a personal credo."

no worries!

[talentedscavenger]

Rey had always been curious as a child to step inside the big blue box with 'police' written in white. It felt...not odd, but unnerving to be invited inside. Almost as though it was a dream, or a trick. But, this was the Doctor. Her faith was well placed with him. Besides, he probably needed help with the porgs.

After the Doctor extended his invitation to enter, she carefully walked inside. Her eyes went wide seeing how big it was. The phrase, 'big things come in small packages' wandered through her mind. What she was seeing was fascinating! This was probably one of the best things that's happened to her since coming to Ahch-To.

There were porgs hopping on the control panel, and some who were in the corners, ripping out panels and wires, trying to build a nest....and maybe one that was trying to close the TARDIS door.

"This is incredible..." Rey breathed, still in awe..until she saw one porg try to fly off with a wire in it's mouth. She threw her hand out, using the Force to make the bird stop in mid-air, and try it back to her.

"Maybe you're here to help put an end to the First Order?" she asked, continuing to concentrate on bringing the porg to her, until it was safely in her hands, and she pried the wires out of its mouth....

Yeah a few things happened while the Doctor was away.

[thatsortofman]

He really did need help with the porgs. They were many and multiple. Somewhere (who knows where honestly) he'd procured a small spray bottle and was currently spritzing the few on the console like they were misbehaving house cats. "Down. Enough of that. You'll send us loose in the timestream."

Persistent little things. He does pause to look over at Ray, facing lighting up in a smile. "Welcome to the TARDIS, Rey. Really, it's about time you came aboard."

He scooped up a couple of porgs, depositing them at the door and nudging them outside. Go. Be free. Turning just in time to see that trick that Rey pulls, his eyebrows lift. Oh. Oh Now that really is something. "You're a, whatdoyoucallitaroundhere, a Force user. Fantastic."

There's probably something else he means to say but a spark and a shrieking porg catch his attention and he's darting across to snatch the little bird thing away from the sparking panel. A hesitation and he looks back over his shoulder. "Could be. Is that what you're doing then? Taking a stand against the First Order?"

[talentedscavenger]

Rey set the porg down, watching it waddle after it's friends out of the TARDIS. Was she embarrassed? No, just...caught off guard that he saw what she could do. Now she felt...self conscious? Because there was a part of her that doubted herself over having such power...and maybe upset over the fact that she didn't have a damn teacher to help her.

"..in a way, yes," she began, trying to help him wrangle more porgs. How to go into greater details without making herself seem weak and incapable?

"I joined the Resistance, trying to find the last Jedi, Luke. I wanted him to train me, but he's not in the mood for it. And I'm....half ready to drag him back to the General so we can stop the First Order."

[thatsortofman]

"Not in the mood for it?" The Doctor echoes, eyebrows lifting. "You caught him on a grumpy day?" The last Jedi. He has heard of their Order. There have been a few last Jedi before, for various reasons, but he's never met any up close and personal. Maybe it was time to change that. "Well, dragging usually comes with all sorts of headaches. No persuading him? Have you tried a graph? Flow chart?"

Sometimes he talks just for the sound of it it seems, but he is considering the timing of his own arrival. This is the sort of moment that feels like it ought to be timelocked, or perhaps just before it will be. That means he needs to make the most of what this is.

"Resistance is good. The things they're up to, all that death and destruction, it's wrong." So very wrong. He's destroyed too much with his hands -- his own people, as far as he knows, even for the best of reasons, even if he believes it was the only way -- for it not to weigh heavily on him when he sees it happening.

[talentedscavenger]

Rey stared at him with a deadpanned expression. Flow charts? Graphs?

"Shouldn't 'saving the galaxy' be enough of a reason to help?" Granted, it would be Luke's second time doing it, but he threw away the lightsaber she found! he threw it away like it meant nothing, and he didn't bat an eye.

"I've stayed outside his home, tried to verbally convince him--and I'm ready to knock him out and drag him back to General Organa." Knock him out, drag him back to the ship, or have Chewie do both. She had options but...it wasn't enough. It didn't feel like it was enough. She had a connection to the Force, and she wanted to find her place in all of this--even if it was just a big mess of family drama that expanded over the last couple of decades.

"Yes, Resistance is good, the First Order is bad--they're the ones who want to conquer the Galaxy and they do not care about who stands in their way." It was the same motto as the Empire, only with a new generation.

"I just...I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know if you want to help--and you shouldn't. It's our mess to deal with but...Luke doesn't want any part of it."