Moving Forward Series Part 04 - Chapter 24 - Senses
Title: Moving Forward Series Part 04 - Chapter 24 - Senses
Author: othermewriter
Chapter Rating: PG - Series Rating: Adult
Characters: 9/Rose Disclaimer: not mine, and so not making money from this I try not to dwell on it too much :(
A/N: As always my deepest gratitude to my beta lostwolfchats Who continues to hang in there with me as my awesome beta!
I have seen in his memories his original reaction to the fruit as a child, but like so many things I am finding it comes nowhere close to experiencing it first hand through Rose's senses. Rose’s fascination is equal to my own but for entirely different reasons. She is coming in to this with no knowledge whatsoever of what to expect where I know what and why but do not have the same kinds of sensory organs as my Time Lords so don't really have the frames of reference to interpret her impressions any more than she does. So, it is again my Theta who guides us into understanding; as he almost unconsciously catalogs the impressions he is receiving from our body.
First thing I realize is the 'scent' Rose has been 'smelling' is not something being generated by her olfactory senses but by temporal senses she still doesn't understand. The closest analogy being to scent so that is what she mentally labels the sensations. I feel as the fruit spreads it's effects across Theta’s form from both Rose's and my own senses and find it fascinating how different the views are from each other. I know that he is experiencing the same kinds of sensations Rose is but to a much stronger degree because he is in direct contact with the fruit's surface. I watch in wonder as it reveals to Rose's senses that which is so a part of him, that I hadn't even realized until this moment Rose hasn’t really seen this part of him. These energies are an intrinsic part of him being a Time Lord. What I observe though surprises me in another way, as I see how much our bonding has changed the patterns in his 'storm' of energy. The energy that composes his extra-dimensional aspects has always been much stronger than that of most Time Lords and that has only grown in their absence.
However, as I compare it now, to what it was only a few weeks ago I find it radically changed. The levels have increased nine fold and the complexity is... stunning. Never have I seen anything quite so beautiful and at the same time so utterly terrifying. The raw power alone is amazing, and yet everything is in check, the forces balanced against each other, and I realize against Rose and I in an intricate tripod. I dread to think what could happen if something upset that balance. In my fascination with the complex web of energy I don't grasp at first he has moved, until I feel the powerful jolt of temporal energy that comes as he places the small but volatile little fruit against Rose's lips. The energy cascade it initiates in our mind causes our brain to send out the most unusual brainwave pulses and I tremble under the sudden onslaught of pleasure, pain and other baffling sensations.
Then he is there drawing off the extra energy before it can completely overwhelm us, wrapping us in his arms soothing the sudden disruption, pulling us back from possible harm. I feel confused for a moment as I realize that he has picked Rose up but I don’t remember him doing so and I still feel odd from the reaction Rose is having. It is not an unpleasing reaction, but so very strange. She is not conscious but all of her senses are in overdrive feeding their input through her to me in her mental absence. She is not harmed any more than I have been by what has happened, of that I am sure, yet everything is unnaturally acute and vivid and more defined than what I am used to receiving from her.
‘It will be for awhile’ comes Theta’s voice in my mind and it is as if he too is extra sharp and precise. Without any transition, suddenly I find myself in our garden and he is standing there hands in his pockets with a thoughtful look on his face. Normally I draw him into my mind not the other way around and it’s a bit disconcerting that he has done so seemingly with such ease.
‘I didn’t mean to distress…’ and everything starts to fade.
‘No.’ I reach for him and everything again snaps into place and is ultra distinct again. ‘It’s so bright’
‘Yes’
Then a thought occurs to me. ‘Is this what human would call being high?’
‘Perhaps.’ and the mischievous expression on his face makes me wonder what he means.
‘What I mean…’ and his expression turns from mischievous to tender and I feel myself blush as I realize he is hearing my every thought even though I’m not intending to project. ‘…is that unlike human substances that artificially hype up then depress ones senses, this actually works with a young Time Lords brain chemistry.' and suddenly he is looking at me with concern. 'I know you know this Verity, but never have you experienced it, are you feeling okay?' With that, he is right in front of me gently cupping my face in his hand and looking intently into my eyes.
'Have his eyes always been such a brilliant blue?' and I watch him smile at my random thought before reaching up take his retreating hand as he takes a small step back.
‘I don’t understand. Why am I awake and she isn’t?’
‘You don’t live completely in her body like she does, and she is not exactly asleep either. She should remember this conversation even as I recall the sensations that occurred when I first experienced this, she is just not engaged.
‘Oi, trying to sleep here!’ comes Rose’s slightly cranky response causing us both to look to our right where Rose has suddenly appeared, curled up in the bed we share with Theta, which seems very out of place sitting in the middle of our garden’s lawn.
‘Oh this is fantastic!’ and I watch confused as he walks over to sit on the side of the bed next to her.
‘Come on Rosie, up-si-daisy’ he states as he pulls her into a sitting position and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. ‘Got someone important for you to meet.’ With that, he motions me to come join them over by the bed.
‘Sleepy,’ comes her mumbled reply as she curls into his side trying to adjust to use his shoulder as a pillow refusing to open her eyes, and I have to admit looking very adorable in her sleep shorts and top.
‘Not now Rose, this is important.’ he states in his most no-nonsense tone. To which she cracks an eye open and then rapidly blinks in confusion as she realizes she isn’t where she expected.
‘Rose, I want you to meet Verity.’ He states holding his hand out to me, which I hesitantly take unsure what exactly to make of this whole situation even as Rose stares at me wide eyed with surprise.
‘How?’ then looking around ‘Where?’ Then I feel her decide to tackle what she is sure of ‘We’ve met.’
His smile fades as he suddenly sees in our memories exactly when and under what circumstances, as he looks down embarrassed by his lack of remembering. I squeeze his hand in comfort, even as I watch as I have so many other times as Rose gently reaches out to him and makes him look up at her giving him her soft reassurance ‘It’s okay.’
‘She’s right you know.’ I tell him and sit down on his other side. The look of gratitude I get from Rose makes me love her even more.
As Theta looks up confused by suddenly being flanked by both of us, I know we need to get away from this sensitive topic. Yet, I am unsure what to say.
‘So where are exactly are we?’ Rose asks and I know she has heard my stray thought, as she looks me in the eye for the briefest moment, even though it is also obvious he did not.
I’m relieved, as he launches into teaching mode. ‘Well as much as it can be said we are anywhere, your inside my head. I mean physically were in the Vortex, and you and I are within Verity in our bedroom. But, our consciousness is currently in a mental construct that Verity and I put together so we could have face-to-face conversations.
I watch the surprised expression bloom on Rose’s face as she looks around. ‘You mean that you can… you built this inside your head? Wait why are we in your head not hers?’ she asks looking between us confused. ‘I mean… well not to depreciate that genius brain of yours’ she states teasing, ‘but she has more space,’ then looking at me. ‘Don’t you?’
‘Yes, Rose I have more space, and usually we are because it’s easier for me to maintain this environment.’
‘But, well right now is special.’ he states both proud of himself and delighted by the turn of events. You see the Vrijemetree fruit, the little grape like fruit you ate’, he clarifies at Rose’s confused expression. ‘It for a time enhances a Time Lord’s natural abilities.’
‘You mean I could do this?’ She says looking around again at the elaborate garden. As she takes in the orange sky, and red grass I feel her realize on what planet it is this is modeled and I am immediately grateful when I feel her shield that realization from him. I am even more thankful when I realize he didn’t notice the fact that she did and continues explaining.
‘Yes, with the right training and concentration you could.’ He replies.
‘Wait, then why did I fall asleep while you wandered off into the garden?’ Rose asks in confusion.
‘Well it has to do with brain development.’ He states hesitantly not wanting to remind her of their age difference again, so I clarify.
‘He has a two year old brain but with mental templates that go back hundreds of years where yours is only two weeks old and no previous patterns with which to work.’ and I’m confused as she bursts out laughing.
Between bouts of laughter she spits out ‘So is that why he acts like a two year old at times?’
‘Oi, a bit of respect for your elders Ms. two week old’ is his mock indignant reply.
Through my laughter I respond ‘Now children, behave.’
To which they respond in tandem ‘Yes mum!’ which gets us all laughing.
When we finally quit giggling, Rose asks more seriously, ‘so what exactly is the difference between us?’ As he smiles a mischievous grin, she quickly clarifies, ‘I mean besides the obvious. What makes my brain go to sleep, and yours go build a garden and drag us into it with you.’
His reply is tender as he explains ‘Synaptic stability, your brain is still developing. It may not be developing in the same speed as those of us that were loomed, but it does appear it is going though similar stages, and it’s because the pace is faster it’s causing the overload events.’
‘Then why this?’ she asks waving around at our location.
At that, I give her a quick burst of information about how the Vrijemetree fruit had been used and feel her understanding, even as I see Theta nod in cheerful agreement.
‘Then why am I awake now? This isn’t normal right, I should be in some kind trance like state as my brain readjusts, so why…’
I smile at the tenderness in Theta’s voice as he replies ‘My precious Rose there is very little normal about you.’ as I feel her hurt at that, I hear him continue. ‘You are exceptional, unique, and magnificent is what you are my Rose.' and watch as smile bursts across her face.
Even as I watch though I see her smile falter, even as my own does as we sense in the same moment the strain that maintaining this is environment is starting to become on Theta. Without thinking we both move to stand in front of him, an action that in the outer world would have resulted in our collision, instead in here, it results in our merger causing us both to gasp at the incredible sensation of both expansion and contraction. A moment later, we feel his arms around us as we stagger forward into him. We go with the momentum and everything goes fuzzy, as we 'fall' not just the distance to the virtual bed in his mind but across the boarder onto an equivalent bed in reality.
With a start, we all discover simultaneously we are no longer in the garden, but have fallen backward into the bed in our bedroom. As we do so, the memories of him bring us here and putting us to bed come flooding back, I look up from where I am snuggled into his side even as he looks down and smiles.
We identify almost immediately that our senses in our Rose body are still as acute as they had been in our virtual bodies and I feel as Rose smiles with me at the possibilities.
"Now Wolf go slowly." comes the soft warning rumble of his voice and realize that at least for right now we have once again merged. I tense bracing myself for the bouncing between our two bodies sensation that realization usually causes crunching our eyes closed to reduce the nausea it often engenders. But unlike previous times it doesn’t come and after a moment we cautiously crack open an eye and realize that instead of the sensory confusion my focus cleanly shifts from Verity's internal sensors to Roses eyes and stare up into his smiling face.
“I’m not… we’re not bouncing.”
“Better control. It was part of the reason to do this remember.” He gently reminds us.
“But… does that mean…”
“No, most likely it will not fix the problem, I’m afraid that will take more practice.”
“Oh.”
---------------------------------------
I feel bad that I can’t give them better news and do what I can to soften the blow of disappointment I hear in her voice. “But at least for the next few hours you should have a reprieve from the confusion, and hopefully it will also give your minds time to develop a more stable pattern for you to work back toward when the harmonizing effect of the fruit wears off.
**************************************************
One moment I am asleep, the next I am aware of how I am stretched across the Doctor's body. I luxuriate in the feel of the ultra soft hair on his chest beneath my fingertips, and the solid pressure where my cheek is pressed against collarbone. I feel rather than hear his soft sigh at my touch; he has no idea how much I love these rare moments when Rose and Verity are completely merged and I am set free; he doesn't understand, but that's okay - I do. I will never let him go, he is ours. Chaos and Order may play their long game, but he is our champion in all his aspects, and we, in turn, are his. They may think they will make him their pawn but they will learn, that it is they that need to be afraid. They should recall the childish rhyme and remember to be afraid of the Big Bad Wolf. Still, it's hard for me to see my Doctor so distressed; he is convinced that I will eventually regret my decision to be with him. How little he knows about my love for him! Still, I can be patient - I have eternity. ”
Chapter 25 - Resting
Moving Forward Story Index 1
Author: othermewriter
Chapter Rating: PG - Series Rating: Adult
Characters: 9/Rose Disclaimer: not mine, and so not making money from this I try not to dwell on it too much :(
A/N: As always my deepest gratitude to my beta lostwolfchats Who continues to hang in there with me as my awesome beta!
I have seen in his memories his original reaction to the fruit as a child, but like so many things I am finding it comes nowhere close to experiencing it first hand through Rose's senses. Rose’s fascination is equal to my own but for entirely different reasons. She is coming in to this with no knowledge whatsoever of what to expect where I know what and why but do not have the same kinds of sensory organs as my Time Lords so don't really have the frames of reference to interpret her impressions any more than she does. So, it is again my Theta who guides us into understanding; as he almost unconsciously catalogs the impressions he is receiving from our body.
First thing I realize is the 'scent' Rose has been 'smelling' is not something being generated by her olfactory senses but by temporal senses she still doesn't understand. The closest analogy being to scent so that is what she mentally labels the sensations. I feel as the fruit spreads it's effects across Theta’s form from both Rose's and my own senses and find it fascinating how different the views are from each other. I know that he is experiencing the same kinds of sensations Rose is but to a much stronger degree because he is in direct contact with the fruit's surface. I watch in wonder as it reveals to Rose's senses that which is so a part of him, that I hadn't even realized until this moment Rose hasn’t really seen this part of him. These energies are an intrinsic part of him being a Time Lord. What I observe though surprises me in another way, as I see how much our bonding has changed the patterns in his 'storm' of energy. The energy that composes his extra-dimensional aspects has always been much stronger than that of most Time Lords and that has only grown in their absence.
However, as I compare it now, to what it was only a few weeks ago I find it radically changed. The levels have increased nine fold and the complexity is... stunning. Never have I seen anything quite so beautiful and at the same time so utterly terrifying. The raw power alone is amazing, and yet everything is in check, the forces balanced against each other, and I realize against Rose and I in an intricate tripod. I dread to think what could happen if something upset that balance. In my fascination with the complex web of energy I don't grasp at first he has moved, until I feel the powerful jolt of temporal energy that comes as he places the small but volatile little fruit against Rose's lips. The energy cascade it initiates in our mind causes our brain to send out the most unusual brainwave pulses and I tremble under the sudden onslaught of pleasure, pain and other baffling sensations.
Then he is there drawing off the extra energy before it can completely overwhelm us, wrapping us in his arms soothing the sudden disruption, pulling us back from possible harm. I feel confused for a moment as I realize that he has picked Rose up but I don’t remember him doing so and I still feel odd from the reaction Rose is having. It is not an unpleasing reaction, but so very strange. She is not conscious but all of her senses are in overdrive feeding their input through her to me in her mental absence. She is not harmed any more than I have been by what has happened, of that I am sure, yet everything is unnaturally acute and vivid and more defined than what I am used to receiving from her.
‘It will be for awhile’ comes Theta’s voice in my mind and it is as if he too is extra sharp and precise. Without any transition, suddenly I find myself in our garden and he is standing there hands in his pockets with a thoughtful look on his face. Normally I draw him into my mind not the other way around and it’s a bit disconcerting that he has done so seemingly with such ease.
‘I didn’t mean to distress…’ and everything starts to fade.
‘No.’ I reach for him and everything again snaps into place and is ultra distinct again. ‘It’s so bright’
‘Yes’
Then a thought occurs to me. ‘Is this what human would call being high?’
‘Perhaps.’ and the mischievous expression on his face makes me wonder what he means.
‘What I mean…’ and his expression turns from mischievous to tender and I feel myself blush as I realize he is hearing my every thought even though I’m not intending to project. ‘…is that unlike human substances that artificially hype up then depress ones senses, this actually works with a young Time Lords brain chemistry.' and suddenly he is looking at me with concern. 'I know you know this Verity, but never have you experienced it, are you feeling okay?' With that, he is right in front of me gently cupping my face in his hand and looking intently into my eyes.
'Have his eyes always been such a brilliant blue?' and I watch him smile at my random thought before reaching up take his retreating hand as he takes a small step back.
‘I don’t understand. Why am I awake and she isn’t?’
‘You don’t live completely in her body like she does, and she is not exactly asleep either. She should remember this conversation even as I recall the sensations that occurred when I first experienced this, she is just not engaged.
‘Oi, trying to sleep here!’ comes Rose’s slightly cranky response causing us both to look to our right where Rose has suddenly appeared, curled up in the bed we share with Theta, which seems very out of place sitting in the middle of our garden’s lawn.
‘Oh this is fantastic!’ and I watch confused as he walks over to sit on the side of the bed next to her.
‘Come on Rosie, up-si-daisy’ he states as he pulls her into a sitting position and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. ‘Got someone important for you to meet.’ With that, he motions me to come join them over by the bed.
‘Sleepy,’ comes her mumbled reply as she curls into his side trying to adjust to use his shoulder as a pillow refusing to open her eyes, and I have to admit looking very adorable in her sleep shorts and top.
‘Not now Rose, this is important.’ he states in his most no-nonsense tone. To which she cracks an eye open and then rapidly blinks in confusion as she realizes she isn’t where she expected.
‘Rose, I want you to meet Verity.’ He states holding his hand out to me, which I hesitantly take unsure what exactly to make of this whole situation even as Rose stares at me wide eyed with surprise.
‘How?’ then looking around ‘Where?’ Then I feel her decide to tackle what she is sure of ‘We’ve met.’
His smile fades as he suddenly sees in our memories exactly when and under what circumstances, as he looks down embarrassed by his lack of remembering. I squeeze his hand in comfort, even as I watch as I have so many other times as Rose gently reaches out to him and makes him look up at her giving him her soft reassurance ‘It’s okay.’
‘She’s right you know.’ I tell him and sit down on his other side. The look of gratitude I get from Rose makes me love her even more.
As Theta looks up confused by suddenly being flanked by both of us, I know we need to get away from this sensitive topic. Yet, I am unsure what to say.
‘So where are exactly are we?’ Rose asks and I know she has heard my stray thought, as she looks me in the eye for the briefest moment, even though it is also obvious he did not.
I’m relieved, as he launches into teaching mode. ‘Well as much as it can be said we are anywhere, your inside my head. I mean physically were in the Vortex, and you and I are within Verity in our bedroom. But, our consciousness is currently in a mental construct that Verity and I put together so we could have face-to-face conversations.
I watch the surprised expression bloom on Rose’s face as she looks around. ‘You mean that you can… you built this inside your head? Wait why are we in your head not hers?’ she asks looking between us confused. ‘I mean… well not to depreciate that genius brain of yours’ she states teasing, ‘but she has more space,’ then looking at me. ‘Don’t you?’
‘Yes, Rose I have more space, and usually we are because it’s easier for me to maintain this environment.’
‘But, well right now is special.’ he states both proud of himself and delighted by the turn of events. You see the Vrijemetree fruit, the little grape like fruit you ate’, he clarifies at Rose’s confused expression. ‘It for a time enhances a Time Lord’s natural abilities.’
‘You mean I could do this?’ She says looking around again at the elaborate garden. As she takes in the orange sky, and red grass I feel her realize on what planet it is this is modeled and I am immediately grateful when I feel her shield that realization from him. I am even more thankful when I realize he didn’t notice the fact that she did and continues explaining.
‘Yes, with the right training and concentration you could.’ He replies.
‘Wait, then why did I fall asleep while you wandered off into the garden?’ Rose asks in confusion.
‘Well it has to do with brain development.’ He states hesitantly not wanting to remind her of their age difference again, so I clarify.
‘He has a two year old brain but with mental templates that go back hundreds of years where yours is only two weeks old and no previous patterns with which to work.’ and I’m confused as she bursts out laughing.
Between bouts of laughter she spits out ‘So is that why he acts like a two year old at times?’
‘Oi, a bit of respect for your elders Ms. two week old’ is his mock indignant reply.
Through my laughter I respond ‘Now children, behave.’
To which they respond in tandem ‘Yes mum!’ which gets us all laughing.
When we finally quit giggling, Rose asks more seriously, ‘so what exactly is the difference between us?’ As he smiles a mischievous grin, she quickly clarifies, ‘I mean besides the obvious. What makes my brain go to sleep, and yours go build a garden and drag us into it with you.’
His reply is tender as he explains ‘Synaptic stability, your brain is still developing. It may not be developing in the same speed as those of us that were loomed, but it does appear it is going though similar stages, and it’s because the pace is faster it’s causing the overload events.’
‘Then why this?’ she asks waving around at our location.
At that, I give her a quick burst of information about how the Vrijemetree fruit had been used and feel her understanding, even as I see Theta nod in cheerful agreement.
‘Then why am I awake now? This isn’t normal right, I should be in some kind trance like state as my brain readjusts, so why…’
I smile at the tenderness in Theta’s voice as he replies ‘My precious Rose there is very little normal about you.’ as I feel her hurt at that, I hear him continue. ‘You are exceptional, unique, and magnificent is what you are my Rose.' and watch as smile bursts across her face.
Even as I watch though I see her smile falter, even as my own does as we sense in the same moment the strain that maintaining this is environment is starting to become on Theta. Without thinking we both move to stand in front of him, an action that in the outer world would have resulted in our collision, instead in here, it results in our merger causing us both to gasp at the incredible sensation of both expansion and contraction. A moment later, we feel his arms around us as we stagger forward into him. We go with the momentum and everything goes fuzzy, as we 'fall' not just the distance to the virtual bed in his mind but across the boarder onto an equivalent bed in reality.
With a start, we all discover simultaneously we are no longer in the garden, but have fallen backward into the bed in our bedroom. As we do so, the memories of him bring us here and putting us to bed come flooding back, I look up from where I am snuggled into his side even as he looks down and smiles.
We identify almost immediately that our senses in our Rose body are still as acute as they had been in our virtual bodies and I feel as Rose smiles with me at the possibilities.
"Now Wolf go slowly." comes the soft warning rumble of his voice and realize that at least for right now we have once again merged. I tense bracing myself for the bouncing between our two bodies sensation that realization usually causes crunching our eyes closed to reduce the nausea it often engenders. But unlike previous times it doesn’t come and after a moment we cautiously crack open an eye and realize that instead of the sensory confusion my focus cleanly shifts from Verity's internal sensors to Roses eyes and stare up into his smiling face.
“I’m not… we’re not bouncing.”
“Better control. It was part of the reason to do this remember.” He gently reminds us.
“But… does that mean…”
“No, most likely it will not fix the problem, I’m afraid that will take more practice.”
“Oh.”
---------------------------------------
I feel bad that I can’t give them better news and do what I can to soften the blow of disappointment I hear in her voice. “But at least for the next few hours you should have a reprieve from the confusion, and hopefully it will also give your minds time to develop a more stable pattern for you to work back toward when the harmonizing effect of the fruit wears off.
**************************************************
One moment I am asleep, the next I am aware of how I am stretched across the Doctor's body. I luxuriate in the feel of the ultra soft hair on his chest beneath my fingertips, and the solid pressure where my cheek is pressed against collarbone. I feel rather than hear his soft sigh at my touch; he has no idea how much I love these rare moments when Rose and Verity are completely merged and I am set free; he doesn't understand, but that's okay - I do. I will never let him go, he is ours. Chaos and Order may play their long game, but he is our champion in all his aspects, and we, in turn, are his. They may think they will make him their pawn but they will learn, that it is they that need to be afraid. They should recall the childish rhyme and remember to be afraid of the Big Bad Wolf. Still, it's hard for me to see my Doctor so distressed; he is convinced that I will eventually regret my decision to be with him. How little he knows about my love for him! Still, I can be patient - I have eternity. ”
Chapter 25 - Resting
Moving Forward Story Index 1