θ 10

[bit_impossible]

[a sharp, loud whistle sounds across the Plane, the Doctor at the source of the sound with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. after discreetly wiping his fingers off, he holds up a Betamax tape in his other hand. one might also notice his hair has been done up in a pompadour. (and really, he hasn't bothered restyling it yet.)]Hello, you lot! Glad

Comments

[bit_impossible]

[watch out, you've just volunteered yourself! he immediately starts heading over there, an eyebrow raised]

You know, even if you don't have the technology to even use this, you can still help me answer my other questions. [folds his arms, leaning on the doorway of the bar] Like have you had any odd dreams lately, and have you noticed people going missing in your reality?

[he looks like he's done, but then he adds] And what's your name? I don't believe we've met. I'm the Doctor.

[bit_impossible]

Funny, so is that. Well, it's not quite as primitive, but it's certainly down there. [he frowns slightly] Shame.

It can be both. And, I might point out, that was a statement that didn't answer my question. I could always call you "You", or even "Bob", but you don't seem like a "Bob" to me.

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is looking a little frazzled and anxious, but at least he has better hair than the Doctor] You're sure that thing's not going to get out when somebody puts it in a player?

[bit_impossible]

[reassuringly in a slightly dismissive way] Ollie, Ollie, Ollie! You need to trust me. [puts a hand on his shoulder, his voice soft but firm] I'm not going to let the Wire do what it did to you again. So, of course I'm sure! So long as no one actually plays it, and even then, the Wire isn't going to crawl out of the telly or leave ominous messages on the ansaphone.

[oliverplus]

I do trust you! [uncertainly] But uh...if it did get played, what would stop the Wire from doing that?

[bit_impossible]

[rubs the back of his neck] Well...all depends on where and when it breaks out--not that it will. [which isn't exactly an answer to the question]

[holmes_fanatic]

... is that a Betamax tape?

[bit_impossible]

[arches an eyebrow] Very good! Extremely good, even! And surprising someone as young as you can tell the difference between it and a VHS so easily.

[holmes_fanatic]

There's a police officer who is a friend of ours who is a big geek about stuff like that! We had to help him find a message left for him by a girl he liked in elementary school on the tape they recorded their school play on -- and that was on a betamax tape! I remembered.

[bit_impossible]

[he can't help smiling] That's one hell of a memory you've got there. I never did ask how old you are, did I?

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie stares at the Doctor's hair for a moment, and then glances at the tape, giving it a faintly puzzled look. It doesn't quite look like some of the other ones he's seen.

But, for once, he doesn't immediately go up and start asking questions. Instead, he hangs back a bit, peering about to see if anyone else is with the Doctor at the moment or not.]

[bit_impossible]

[when he spots Jamie, his face lights up and he goes on over instead] Hello Jamie! Cat got your tongue?

[bonnypiperlad]

Er...ah, no. [Having failed to spot Oliver at the moment, he doesn't have to worry about things being as uncomfortable as they might be otherwise - or so he thinks. And, well, there is that pompadour, which is a wee bit strange. So...]

What have ye gone and done with your hair this time?

[bit_impossible]

[thankfully, the question about his hair is a good enough of a distraction] Oh! Elvis! Well, we tried to go see him, but turned up in for Liz II's coronation in 1953. Bit of a disappoint, really. No one appreciated the pompadour... [amongst other things]

[onperfectlips]

A 'tape'? [It was obvious that the word didn't mean anything to Gwen, but it was just as obvious that she was intrigued.] What is it?

[bit_impossible]

Glad you asked! [he loves getting to show off] This is called a "Betamax" videocassette. This is used to record video and audio of an event just like its cousin, the VHS--short for "Video Home System"--which was far more friendly and more convenient to use than the Betamax. So unfortunately, it's a bit obsolete. Well, it was obsolete the day it was created, really, but it's really obsolete now. [and he should really stop saying that word, so he does]

[onperfectlips]

[She'd asked, but that didn't mean that she would understand the answer. Gwen's brow furrowed as she listened.]

Record? [The word was unfamiliar, but she extrapolated based on what she'd learned on the Plane.] You mean that little box can capture pictures and sounds?

[bit_impossible]

Not by itself, but that's the basic principle, yes, erm...? [he raises his eyebrows, looking her expectantly in hopes she'll give her name]