[Video]

[championoftime]

[Public]

[He appears on the screen, holding a squirmy mongoose. That terrible jester marionette of his? Still sitting on the back of his couch. He's hesitant because he knows what's been going on, and there's some potentially terrible things that he could be admitting about himself right now. So he's going to try really hard not to!] Harper! This is actually your pet. I'm duty bound to return it to you... I have no idea what it's name is.

[And a pause. Okay! Let's go with-] I know how to play the spoons!

[Really?

That's it?

He sighs in relief.] I was worried for a moment that I was going to say something considerably worse! [He ignores the mongoose considering a voyage down his pullover.] Such as the fact I know I'm the most problematic, repugnant, and unpleasant of the lot of me and I'd been better off not even having gone through this regeneration.

[Wait.] Ignore that bit. [He makes a pissy huff and cuts the feed.]

Comments

[Private]

[collector]

And besides that, I have it on the highest authority that you are very, very attractive indeed.

[Maybe the Doctor shouldn't have told Brax about Rassilon's Mrs. Robinson scheme.]

[Private]

[championoftime]

[You're a terrible, terrible man Brax. Terrible!] I know where you keep your underwear, Irving.

[Private]

[collector]

I am terrified.

The willingness to tempt fate, deliberately and knowingly, is very probably a very interesting subject for psychologists who favour the self-destructive.

[Private]

[championoftime]

It is. I think it has something to do with the thrill of uncertainty. Will one have to entertain the Lord President? Will one have to fear a brother in possession of a spray bottle filled with diluted bleach? It's hard to be certain yet both are distinct and mortifying possibilities.

[Private]

[collector]

And are you satisfied in seeing what you were compelled to confess?

[Private]

[championoftime]

I'm not, and I'm not satisfied that I couldn't control my confession.

[Private]

[collector]

Thete, if something was going to work, "I know how to play the spoons" wasn't going to be it.

[Private]

[championoftime]

Well at least I didn't shout my preferences or lack thereof [Or acknowledge they might exist but are shoved into the evil thing building in his head.]

[Private]

[collector]

That might have worked. [Brax... is actually pretty okay with what he confessed, annoying as it was, because he knows very few care to work out his problems and therefore minor slip-ups will not be read into.] Though I would have had to borrow the mindwipe to protect my mind from this new information.

[Private]

[championoftime]

I would have as well, I believe. Or Agent K's neuralyzer.

[Private]

[collector]

Or a trusted family member's helping hypnotic hand. [Which one of them does he mean? HMM. He smiles.] We were quite different creatures in the Dark Times, weren't we. It's quite startling to see the distinction in person.

[Private]

[championoftime]

Indeed. Though in reminding myself of the attributes of this regeneration, I lucked out quite a bit in that department.

Oh yes. It was certainly mind-blowing to encounter Peylix during one of the floods.

[Private]

[collector]

I can only imagine.

He's really very protective of Rassilon. I'm surprised he didn't chew me out for mentioning planetary destruction in the Lord High President's presence.

[Private]

[championoftime]

He's not said anything to you? [That's odd.]

[Private]

[collector]

He interrogated me briefly on my aesthetics, but no. Not since his original lecture.

[And now for the confession that will only be given to the Doctor.] At times, I feel rather like I'm being wardened by a formerly estranged parent. One who would really rather I didn't call the old man out. After I've moved out and called it quits with the whole family.

[Private]

[championoftime]

I imagine, despite your closed off nature, that Rassilon's mere presence is doing a number on your psyche. And he happens to be best friends with your warden.

Not an environment conducive to healthy growth, but this is a problem for many.

[Private]

[collector]

[eyebrows go up!] A curious allegation. Fortunately, my psyche's state is not your responsibility, Thete.

[Private]

[championoftime]

Of course it is. You're my brother. [Petulant.]

[Private]

[collector]

[Maturely calm.] Your elder brother.

[Private]

[championoftime]

Your point? [That he's ignoring...]

[Private]

[collector]

If you can't work it out, you really are helpless.

[Condescension! The best response to people trying to help you, n'est pas?]

[Private]

[championoftime]

Helpless or hopeless?

[Jackassery, the best way to deal with familial condescension.]

[Private]

[collector]

Helplessly full of hope.

[Wordplay! Just plain fun.]

[Private]

[championoftime]

I prefer to think of it as hopelessly full of help.

[Word baiting with word play is just as fun.]

[Private]

[collector]

You have full less help than one would hope to have in you.

[This is... something. It's a thing.]