[closed]

[devoutish]

WHO: Alfie Solomons, Dorian Gray, The (Twelfth) Doctor
WHERE: Heropa, Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Late December
WHAT: Chance meetings
WARNINGS: n/a; will edit if anything comes up

A - a shopping mall - Heropa

[Alfie does as much of his shopping as possible in small stores. They're much less common here than they are in his time, which makes it difficult, but over the months he's found a bakery he likes, and a greengrocer's, and a butcher's shop. He'll poke his head into the supermarkets and megamalls every once in a while - but he doesn't like them, he's not used to them, and, honestly, they're overwhelming. He doesn't need a store with an entire aisle filled with nothing but various flavors of breakfast cereal. It's ridiculous.

Still, while he avoids them like the plague when he actually wants to get some shopping done, he'll sometimes pay them a visit when he's in the mood to just be a tourist. There's so much to boggle at when he's just looking to kill some time. So that's what he's doing today - just wandering around Heropa's biggest indoor shopping mall, a few days before Christmas. It's a lot more chaotic than usual, but hey, he isn't planning to stand in any lines.

He's just on the cusp of getting bored and considering leaving when he spots a familiar face in the crowd. He isn't actually planning to stop and chat, but then eye contact is made, and... well. Okay]

Doctor.

[He tips his hat.]

Out braving the mad rush, are we?

B - a bar - Maurtia Falls

[Alfie likes this little place in particular, because it's conveniently located near his flat, and it serves this seasonal spiced rum drink that really is very good. He's not a heavy drinker, but he does indulge from time to time, and tonight seems like a good night for it. He's on the way back from services at his temple, wearing his yarmulke under his hat, and it's a quiet night - not completely empty, but close to it. There are a few patrons at tables near the back... and one very morose-looking guy sitting at the bar. Alfie opts for a bar seat himself, taking a stool a couple spots away from this sad specimen. And when his rum comes, he lifts his glass to him in a half-toast.]

Comments

[helpline]

[ The Doctor loves shopping malls. It's loud, there's people, there's so many things to do and bright lights and especially around Christmas, there's a ton of cross people but there's also a ton of happy people. And really, their happiness is contagious. So, the Doctor's been walking around with a grin on his face.

He's inundated with bags, holding various bags from various stores: a bath goods store, an electronics store, a clothing store, so on and so forth. And oh! Alfie! Now that's wonderful, it's always glad to see another person here. The Doctor gives him a griiiin, as he walks over with a little nod. ]

Enjoying rampant consumerism as well?

[devoutish]

Not participating.

[He eyes the Doctor's bags. That's... certainly a lot.]

But you are, eh? What have you got?

[helpline]

Oh, just a few things here and there. [ says the man carrying like ten bags. ] Some things for Hazel, some things for myself—did you know that there's a store devoted entirely to kitchen gadgets?

[devoutish]

I passed it. It would make more sense if it wasn't so fucking huge. Are the people here ever gonna buy and use half the things in there?

[helpline]

Depends entirely on the thing! Someone might not use a knife block, but the store's got a dehydrator that someone might use!

[devoutish]

Mm. In my day, we don't feel the need to buy everything in the world the way this lot does.

[helpline]

And yet I'm pretty certain that if things like automatic can openers or mass-produced socks existed in your day, people'd buy them.

It's convenience, [ the Doctor remarks, with a little shrug. ] There's still some people who're willing to take the time and effort to knit sweaters, but if you're cold and don't have the skill, buying one seems like the best option.

[devoutish]

[He's right. Alfie's just being a little grumpy.]

I don't make my clothes myself, mate. We've got tailors for that, and the clothes they make fit much better than the things in shops here.

[helpline]

We've got tailors here too, you know.

[ watch in amazement as the Doctor combats grumpiness with common sense. ]

[devoutish]

I know. I've found one. Barry Stein in De Chima. Good lad, learned the trade from his grandfather.

[helpline]

Really? I'll have to look him up, you can't find velvet anywhere these days and I'd like a new coat. I was thinking something in a darker purple, I'd look good in that color.

[ what were they talking about before because surprise, they're now talking about tailors. ]

[devoutish]

Dark purple velvet? Is that common dress on your planet?

[He still doesn't totally buy that the Doctor is an alien, but.]

[helpline]

It's common dress for me. Time Lord dress usually involves more robes and stupid looking collars.

[brushoff]

[ God, Dorian feels horrendous. What do you do when your husband gets ported out, back to your world, possibly to his death? If you're Dorian Gray, you drink yourself into oblivion while circling a pit of self-loathing. Perfectly helpful and valid ways of coping!

Thankfully, this is his first drink of the night, an absolutely boring gin and tonic. So, as Alfie raises his glass in a half-toast, Dorian can't help but let out a bitter laugh, raising his glass as well. ]

To...fuck if I know, absent friends?

[ He sounds absolutely miserable. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie has a lot of absent friends - not ones who'd ported out and left him behind, but ones who he'd left behind by being brought here in the first place. He looks at Dorian, long and hard and piercing, before nodding.]

That I can drink to.

[And he does.]

[brushoff]

[ Dorian knocks back the drink, giving Alfie a bitter little smile as he did so. ]

So who's it for you? Family, friends, or lovers?

[devoutish]

Family and friends. I'm stuck here, they're back there.

[He doesn't sound like he's strugging, but he's a stoic Brit.]

[brushoff]

You should be grateful for that, [ Dorian adds, with a bitter little laugh. ] Because we're not truly stuck here. The Porter yanks us backwards and forwards, here and back, all of her own free will. If they were here, then they'd be sent home and you'd be left here alone.

[ It's amazing how much bitterness and anger is in Dorian's voice when he adds in a final phrase: ] You'd be left here alone again.

[devoutish]

If they were here and were sent home, I'd be glad for it.

[He says it evenly, and completely confidently.]

[brushoff]

Then congratulations: you're a less selfish person than I am.

[ Dorian is 100% bitter about his current state and can't help but roll his eyes at Alfie's statement.. ]

[devoutish]

You said yourself you'll go back to them eventually. Yeah? This is temporary.

[brushoff]

[ He can't help but roll his eyes at that. Dorian Gray, wrapped up in his self-pity as always. ] What a rubbish way to comfort someone, 'it's temporary.' Pain is temporary and yet it still hurts

[devoutish]

I'm not trying to comfort you.

[He doesn't sound hostile, or even particularly unfriendly.]

I don't fucking know you.

[brushoff]

[ At that, Dorian just looks downright confused. Because what. Everybody should know him! He's Dorian Gray, he's one of the more famous imPorts at that.

At least it's egotism that's slowly snapping him out of his funk. ]

What do you mean you don't know me? Everyone knows me.

[devoutish]

[Alfie raises his eyebrows.]

Introduce yourself, then.