Meeting of a Doctor and a Dragon[Closed]

[curiousredsoul]

[Bendy-timed back to just after the engineering meeting, closed for Fifth Doctor]

The meeting had proved quite interesting to Celena.  Gave her a good deal to think about, both about the department itself, the people within it and the projects that had been brought up. Needless to say she would be looking further into the department herself. Apart from simple interest in it all she had gathered two particular outcomes from the meeting, one a possible step along in the completion and work of a project she'd been working quietly for the moment, and the second an encounter with one calling himself the Doctor and a request to talk with her after the meeting.

And thus here she was, waiting near the door to Special Weapons, waiting for the Doctor patiently. A softly glowing crystal device held to a thin chain hanging around her neck displaying what seemed to be a holographic schematic of a device of some kind, what it was was hard to tell as the dragoness manipulated the image thoughtfully, though a light swipe of a paw would disable the image once the Doctor approached her.

Comments

[celery-brooch.livejournal.com]

The Doctor in question had been delayed in this encounter, having made plans before the meeting to discuss the GLaDOS issue with Billy and, thus, his priorities were set. But with the room now relatively cleared and mountains of research waiting idly in the Media Library, the Doctor was free at last for some extra, personal prying. The jumping from task to task, gathering information as he went, reminded the Time Lord of many of his adventures, only helping to reassure him that this was just another one, just one more accidental mission that would turn out for the better in the end, where he and the rest of his companions would escape, relatively unscathed, time lines in order and destination in mind, back into the TARDIS and the hungry, relentless time vortex.

But I digress.

The dragoness’s device, functioning or idle, immediately caught the Doctor’s attention—it was, after all, the essential reason for why he wanted to talk to her—but he didn’t mention it or the topic of interest at first. Instead he approached Celena with a genial smile, gave her a short bow with his hands in his pockets (“How do you do,”) and unfurled a somewhat abused Panama hat to place atop his head of blond hair. A casual motion was made towards the empty hallway.

“Shall we walk?”

[curiousredsoul]

The dragoness hadn't particularly minded the delay, having taken the time to look over and think on possible methods of adding a power source to the device she was planning. The Doctor might catch a glimpse of an almost ringlike structure before Celena finalized one touch and deactivated the display as she looked over to him as he approached. The attention given to her device was not unnoticed by the perceptive dragon, though merely noted, such a device could catch the attention of someone for many reasons.

An easy smile given in turn as he approached before a small bow of her head was given in return. Nodding to his motion she stepped out and into the corridor ready to walk along once the Doctor joined her. Hmm, now just what had the Doctor wished to talk about, he had her curious indeed.

"Indeed we shall,"

[celery-brooch.livejournal.com]

And so they walked. On a spaceship the size of a small moon, they could continue to do so through these hallways for quite some time without reaching anywhere definitive. This was perfect for the Doctor's needs, of course—the chances of running into a certain someone decreased dramatically in these winding passages out of the usual transit areas.

Not that it gave him any excuse to waste time by dodging around the subject matter. Pleasantries aside, the blond Time Lord strode along at a casual pace and, as if noticing it for the first time, gave an inquisitive glance at the device around Celena's neck.

“Pardon me for asking, but that is quite an intriguing mechanism you have.” He raised his brow expectantly. “—A holographic storage unit, I take it?

Sorry for the delay >.<

[curiousredsoul]

The labyrinth of passages did indeed provide suitable room for walking and talking in such a manner. Perhaps did not lesson the chance as much as some places would but nevertheless it did lower them significantly, and gave them a relatively good amount of privacy, it would take a bit to sneak up on them especially if they kept a reasonable pace. This did not go unnoticed by the dragoness.

Celena tilted her head and went along with his inquisitive glance, looking down to the device, before looking back to him as they walked. "Of sorts yes, it is a knowledge crystal of my kind, a useful device indeed I have found," She replied easily with a smile to the Doctor, "I have constructed a few thus far for those who would have use of them,"

<3?

[celery-brooch.livejournal.com]

"Oh?"

Yes, that would make sense—the mind worked much like a holographic projector, what with its separate parts infinitely recurring. Storing thought processes or scanning a mental image into such a device would, therefore, be quite simple given the correct layout and the capacity to handle a time variable, and it could even serve as a direct link between outside information and the brain, like a subliminal tape, only far more effective. The Doctor was impressed.

"I see...if I may ask, who exactly have you constructed these knowledge crystals for on this ship?"

[curiousredsoul]

Celena bobbed her head in a small nod at that, she could almost see his mind ticking away there. He'd be fairly close to the mark when it would come to it on the workings of the device. He did have a sense of intelligence about him, more than the usual person, something that drew Celena's curiosity all the more.

That question drew her attention though, tilting her head as she cast her gaze to him briefly, he wished to know who she'd made them for? Hmm, wasn't like she was being secretive about them, "You may, apart from my own, I have constructed several others, one each for Nanashi and Mei-Xing..though I must yet deliver hers,"

"I would be willing to construct more for those who would wish it though,"

[celery-brooch.livejournal.com]

The Doctor nodded, appreciative but still thinking. Clearly his mind was elsewhere and, judging from that worried expression crossing his face, it wasn't anywhere pleasant.

"Then I will be sure to contact you if I ever require one," he assured the dragoness before quickly jerking the subject back to his erstwhile goal, "Uhm—so you did make one for Nanashi? Did she happen to mention why she wanted one?"

[curiousredsoul]

Celena did note that worried expression though outwardly seemed to pay it little mind. Bobbing her head lightly at his assurance, "I would be but happy to construct one for you, should you have the need,"

Nanashi? Hmm, so that was what he was interested in, but for what reason? The dragoness gave a slight tilt of her head, mind churning away even as she kept that calm, relatively cheerful expression and manner, "She did indeed, general notes was the intended purpose, on either technology encountered or people. Though of course that does not limit the usage of the device or what she may use it for,"

Not pausing in her stride she turned her gaze directly to the Doctor, a more serious look to her features, "You have concerns about her?" A testing question before her cheerful appearance returned as if nothing had happened, "I really must explore these corridors more often,"

[celery-brooch.livejournal.com]

The Doctor bit his lip. He was inclined to cover his tracks—he wasn't sure if Nanashi still consorted with Celena on a regular basis and would thus be trying to find out about him as he was—but Celena hardly seemed like the type to intentionally stab him in the back, so long as she knew the situation and knew what was at stake. Which meant that the Doctor would have to trust confiding in her.

"I—yes. I do have my suspicions."

[curiousredsoul]

Hmm, the Doctor seemed hesitant, unsure on whether to trust her or not she assumed. On that she could understand, the Linar drawing her gaze back to her companion as he spoke, as if considering his words. She too had thoughts on the Vampire queen, thus was all the more interested in the Doctor's tale.

"Indeed, what manner of suspicion might she have garnered from one such as yourself?" Her tone calm but serious now, he could trust her if wished.

[celery-brooch.livejournal.com]

The Doctor almost felt bad for what he was about to say. He never enjoyed ratting people out—usually he didn't, not if it wasn't absolutely necessary—mostly because he figured that he could fix the problem by himself, and mostly because it seemed hypocritical, made him untrustworthy. Even if Nanashi was up to no good and the Doctor knew it, running to others with confided information made him no better than the ones he was fighting against. Just another messenger. Just another pawn.

But surely...no, this was different. The Doctor didn't know anything for certain, and Nanashi hadn't given him any specific information, hadn't made him promise not to tell anyone else. This was just...a bit of concerned gossip. The Doctor was helping her. Yes. That would suffice.

"...Celena, I've met many corrupt individuals in my lifetimes. I know how they act, what they desire, and most importantly I can pick them out from a crowd."

He paused and bit his lip uncertainly.

"—Now I know it seems irrational, but Nanashi really doesn't sit right with me. Everything that comes out of her mouth is...artificial. I can't trust her."