velvetcoatsandbrillianthopes:
They knew they were failing at keeping themselves entirely in check. River had made that difficult for a very long time. They could see things flickering through that devastatingly clever mind, she had always been so very clever, and they forced themself to take a deep breath and still their hearts.
“What do you do for work?” They couldn’t help the question, wanting to know what River did when she didn’t know them, didn’t travel the universe and time. “I see, I have plenty of all of that. Would you prefer Oriental? Mediterranean? Classic British? A mixture of any and everything that just catches your eye?”
They watched her step closer and resisted the urge to close that distance. River had been one person they hadn’t wanted space from in many years. A slow smile spread over their face, a little sad at the edges in the way so many of the Doctor’s smiles were when faced with one of their losses. “Hello, River. I’m The Doctor,” they introduced as they accepted her hand.
There was an odd feeling creeping over her. River didn’t understand it, and she hated things she didn’t understand. She was the type to keep digging at a mystery until she found the explanation she was looking for (at least she thought as much– the amnesia made feelings and reactions a little confusing for her at times).
“Really? Your name is just ‘The Doctor’? It's an interesting one I’ll give you that. It's lovely to make your acquaintance.. I work at the secondary school– year eight history and advanced history,” she returned the smile, though her own was much more cheery.
It was only then River realized that she hadn’t let go of their hand. She dropped it quickly, flustered, and that creeping feeling found itself a home and settled in the pit of her stomach. Oh god. Her students must be rubbing off on her, as she suddenly understood it: she fancied the bloody shopkeep. Trying her best to not come across as a socially awkward freak, River replied with an easy, “I’m definitely the anything and everything sort.”
The way she said it, and the little smirk pulling at her mouth, made it sound much dirtier than simply buying antiquities.
“I like a bit of character in a piece, a bit of story. With my job, it's probably no surprise when I say I like older pieces, but I’m open to whatever you think I would like, Doctor,” she supplied, hopeful they would have a few things that fit the bill.
velvetcoatsandbrillianthopes:
When the cold was too biting, The Doctor was glad to have the antique shop to keep them at least somewhat occupied. It didn’t always work, their mind racing a mile a minute and the world around them moving painfully slow for a being who was used to being able to travel time at their whim. The weekends were normally better, a regular flow of people in and out of the shop to keep it from being entirely dull.
They were hanging a newly restored piece on the wall when they heard the bells jingling near the front. Never one to hurry when they weren’t of a mind to, they made sure it was placed just so before making their way to see their visitor. Stopping dead in their tracks, they had to tamp down the greeting that rose up in them. It felt like it had on that damnable Christmas, being looked at and looked right through.
“Hello,” sweetie, they forced to stay silent, dropping a few of the extra lenses down onto their jeweler’s spectacles as though it could help them understand. Or add a buffer. Either way. Their brogue had gone soft and they knew that Bill would have been staring at them. “How can I help you today?”
When River was faced with the attendant, something in her chest tightened. She didn’t understand the feelings that were quickly bubbling up in her. She looked at this stranger, knowing she hadn't met them before, yet she felt like she had known them her whole life. The look in their eyes made her nearly forget why she was there. What the hell was that all about!?
“I, erm,” she took a break, shaking her head in hopes of dispelling the weirdness she felt. “Sorry, long day at work. I just moved into town recently, and my flat is absolutely bare. I was looking to get a few things to make it a bit more home-like. A few lamps, carpets, decorations, a side table, that sort of thing.”
River drummed her fingers against the side of her leg, and then looked as though she was completely scandalized for a moment. She took a few steps forward and held out her hand, “I’m River, by the way. It's nice to meet you.”
for my sweetie @velvetcoatsandbrillianthopes
It was cold here, River knew that if not much else. She was glad to have her favorite coat with her, as it seemed to keep out the bitey chill in the air better than anything else she could come up with. She had it pulled tight around herself, hands stuck deep in her pockets, as she walked down the street. There were a lot of people out and about today, but that wasn't surprising for a Saturday morning.
She had a long list of errands to run, but there was one shop that had her main interest— Goodwin Antiques. She didn’t know exactly why she was so pulled towards it, but she wanted to find out what sort of treasures the place could be hiding. On the clock, Ms. Song was a history teacher, so it made sense she would be intrigued by carefully preserved items of the past. Besides, she had just moved into town, and her tiny flat looked depressing with nothing to cover the bare walls and table tops and floors of it.
Pushing in the door of the shop, River was happy to find it was warm inside. Her eyes didn’t know where to look first, as there seemed to be dozens of pretty pieces within feet on the doorway to look at. As she unzipped her coat, she looked around for the nearest attendant. She was going to need one if she had any hope of navigating the place. When she saw one, she smiled, and the skin around her eyes crinkled as she did. “Oh hello! Good morning to you.”