008: A Good Deed in a Weary World [Location: Around the City]

[a-pretty-fire.livejournal.com]

It was time.

Drusilla had been waiting patiently – for the right moon and the right moment and, most importantly of all, the right people – and, at long last, it was time.

“Little lamb, little lamb
My birthday is here at last!
Little fish, little fish
Do you think I'll get my wish?
Little lamb, little lamb
I wonder how old I am ..?”

Centuries and centuries. It didn’t matter. She’d made her wish and Miss Edith was already on her way. A hundred birthday gifts – a thousand! – couldn’t mean more to her than that.

The vampire stayed close to the shadows. Not because she needed to, no, but because the darkness was soft and familiar. The sleeping city rippled with anticipation. Something was happening. It had started with the Extras, though they hadn’t – wouldn’t – harm Drusilla. Unlike the rest of the residents, she was moving with purpose and determination, encouraged by the hamsters and aided by the stars. They guided her footsteps, telling her who to seek and how to find them.

The first one would be easy. His name had been on the tip of her tongue since she’d spoken to the hamsters. He was so lonely. The loneliest man in any world. He’d be delighted to see a familiar face, wouldn’t he? Just for a little while? His hearts – two of them, which would make sure a mess if his throat was ever slit – hammered with the need for love and attention.

She didn’t know the others, not really. Just their faces. Just their faces and wishes that called to her across the city.

That was more than enough.

OOC: Open to the unfortunate lucky individuals who are about to benefit from Drusilla’s sudden surge of charitable feeling. There is also a fresh heart in a box on Ruby's desk. Good luck with that?

Comments

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"I wasn't trying to---"

The Doctor turns to Romana, only it's not Romana in his arms, it's the strange woman from the gingerbread house. Drusilla. He jerks back, shocked and alarmed.

"Where is she?" he demands without thinking. Oh, but of course. Romana was never there. It was a glitch or a bug or an illusion, but it wasn't real.

His hearts ache so hard he's worried they might actually break.

"What did you do?" he demands.

[a-pretty-fire.livejournal.com]

Mildly disappointed and thoroughly amused, Drusilla took her own step backwards. She didn't disappear, though. She didn't want to miss the fireworks.

"You missed her," she explained, as if talking to a squirming child. "You wanted to see her."

As far as the vampire was concerned, she had performed a great service for the Doctor.

[iam-thebadwolf.livejournal.com]

Rose watches it all confused and hurt and angry. She doesn't know Drusilla so she doesn't have a clue what the woman can do or what she is.

"Where is who?" she demands. "Doctor, you were only ever kissing the brunette."

And of course that makes Rose wonder just how paranoid and sick the Doctor is right now. She shuts that down though, tries to cram it back into a little hidey-hole. She will not worry about him right now. She will not feel panic that his illness is getting worse. She's going to stay angry.

At least until she's alone.

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

"She wasn't Drusilla a minute ago," the Doctor tells Rose, keeping his eyes on the strange woman in front of him.

He knew there was something not quite right about her, but he's not been completely sure until right now.

"What did you do?" he asks, tilting his head and peering at her curiously. "Where did you get that information, eh?"

[a-pretty-fire.livejournal.com]

She was. She'd always been Drusilla. Didn't the Doctor - who was supposed to be so clever - realise that he'd only seen what he'd wanted to see?

With a slight smile, Drusilla's gaze flickered briefly to Rose's face. She hoped that her irritation wouldn't take the shine of the treat she'd given to the Doctor.

"From your head," she said, as if that should have been obvious.

[iam-thebadwolf.livejournal.com]

"And who did you think--" Rose starts then stops and shakes her head. "I don't wanna know. It's--not important." And it's not. She doesn't imagine it was her so in the end it doesn't matter who he thought he was kissing. Drusilla's words give her a chance to redirect her anger a bit until she can figure out exactly how she feels about this and how angry and hurt she is over the Doctor.

"You rooted 'round in his head without permission? You can't just run 'round doing that to people. People ought to have their minds left alone."

[rude-not-ginger.livejournal.com]

Did Drusilla know what she'd done to him was wrong? Could she see that? Didn't she get it? Maybe she didn't. Maybe she didn't understand at all.

The Doctor stepped back, then reached for Rose's hand. He had to get away from her, had to get away from the burning memory of Romana, telling him everything was all right and that he was doing the right thing.

"It's fine, let's---let's just go."

[a-pretty-fire.livejournal.com]

He was running away. He always ran away.

For a moment - just a moment - she considered saying something in Romana's voice. She remembered the hamsters just in time. They'd wanted her to do good deeds. If she pushed them too far, if she played too much, she might make them cross. Drusilla, who knew a lot more than people ever expected, knew that she couldn't risk that.

"She was right."

Better. Drusilla's own voice, but the words he desperately wanted to hear.

[iam-thebadwolf.livejournal.com]

Rose takes the Doctor's hand, anxious to be away from here, away from this woman and to find out what was going on.

"Who was right, Doctor?" Rose asks, looking up to the Doctor for answers instead of the brunette.