there's a mountain waiting for me; closed

[te_gwas]

For once, they arrive in the receiving area for guests instead of inside a broom closet. The Doctor is pleased - especially when it turns out that they don't need landing papers or identification passes - if a little bemused. Ianto is mostly just pleased.

Comments

[holycrap2hearts]

The Doctor's face settles into a smile. "Yes, yes. The nebula is absolutely beautiful, Ianto, you'll love it."

It isn't the Doctor's favorite sight in the universe. It isn't even his fourth or fifth favorite sight. But it does rank somewhere in the top 50 favorite sights, he's almost certain. This, of course, does not mean that the Butterfly Nebula is anything short of stunningly gorgeous; there just are rather a lot of things to see.

"Now, which direction was that observation deck in?" He doesn't really wait for a reply though, grabbing Ianto's arm and heading off That Way.

[te_gwas]

Ianto smiles in greeting to the people they pass, walking a bit faster to catch up to the Doctor again. He understands the Doctor's enthusiasm, but he really needn't be pulled. Another quick check of his map tells him that, surprisingly, they're going in the right direction.

"You're not going to call yourself a delegate of Gallifrey and go mingle in the main observatory?" Because the Doctor, whether he wants to or not, often ends up brushing elbows with the most important people present, be they leaders of colonies or generals of armies or... delegates on space stations.

Not that he's complaining. He wouldn't mind a quiet adventure.

[holycrap2hearts]

The look he gives Ianto is one of shock. "Why would I do that?" the Doctor asks. "That sounds... boring, don't you agree?"

Not to mention, if word ever did somehow get back to Gallifrey, he'd likely never be able to live it down. "They're probably just doing very boring things. And I promised you I would show you the Butterfly Nebula, didn't I? How would I possibly show you the Butterfly Nebula if we were off being nosy?" Oh honestly, Ianto.

[te_gwas]

"No, of course, there wouldn't be windows in the main observatory."

Point taken, though. Mingling with the delegates would be boring. And Ianto wouldn't want to have to call himself a delegate of Earth (or worse, the Doctor's 'plus one').

"Doctor, it's..." He grabs the Doctor's coat to stop him. The TARDIS can't translate symbols, but Ianto's gleaned from the map and the directions they were given that this one means something like lift.

He searches uselessly for a button until, a few moments later, the floor beneath their feet lights up and the door to the lift slides open. It looks like... a lift. Surprise. Ianto steps inside and looks by habit for the right button.

"Have they abolished buttons in the future?" he asks, opening his guide again to see if there are instructions for operating the lift.