gotosleep_idiot | January & February Test Drive

"Oh, so it's something that happens gradually over time? Is there some way to fight that off?" She'd prefer to recall her pseudo-parents, the Doctor, Jamie and her real family. True there were some things she could do without that might make nightmares less frequent — but even those were loved for the time spent with people she cared about.

"I presume so, but II have not yet found it," she said, regretfully. "But yes, it takes time. And if we can find a way to keep you safe of it, we will."

It brought a smile to her face. Knowing that there was someone on her side in all of this was going to be a big help. It was less of a heavy burden on her mind. Still a burden but not quite as terrible. Not when she had someone to rely on.

"Thank you, Aunt Maddie. I know I can count on you for help."

"Of course. Though there is one benefit to the oddness of this place. Others have elected to change their names when they arrived. Make a new start. You could do the same, if you wish, dear. If you want. I will go along with it. Just so long as I know how to introduce you, or refer to you." A good opening for a name.

A change in name? She could be anyone she wanted! But no, her name was precious to her as her mother had given it to her. It was the last connection she had to the Waterfield family. She smiled and shook her head gently. It was a crafty way to get her name out of her. If she'd realized that was the whole point to it then she would have commended her. But as it happened, Victoria assumed that her Aunt Maddie knew who she was.

"I think I'll continue to use my birth name. I think that would make my parents happy and that way if the Harris' turn up they'll still know me, too. Victoria Waterfield it remains." Although that brought up the question of whether or not she had changed her name, too. "Do you still go by your name, Aunt Maddie? Am I calling you by the right name?"

And she had a name. Perfect. She should be able to cross reference, especially if she could get a date out of her.

She gave her a warm smile. "While no one else here calls me that, I would very much like to be called Aunt Maddie by you still, my dear."

Considering that she had mentioned memories might be able to be altered or lost, it might not be that unfathomable to have to ask her about when she was from. Although the question wasn't really something people generally thought to ask and it wasn't wise to assume everyone was a time traveler, was it? Just more things to remember to keep to herself.

"Then I will! It makes me feel a little less confused that way." She softened. "I'm glad you're here, being suddenly so misplaced feels a little easier with someone I recognize about."

She gave her a warm smile. "Of course my dear." Then she took a breath. "They say that time stops passing in our home worlds when we arrive here, but that seems so odd to me. Have I been missing long? What year is it back home?" See, she was working her way around to that....

"Time stops passing? I suppose on the bright side the Harris' might not fret my disappearing if that's the case." But as far as Victoria had known, her aunt Maddie hadn't gone missing. She hadn't seen her in a few days but that didn't really mean much of anything. She wasn't over visiting Maggie every day after all. She shook her head gently. "I don't think you've gone missing from home or rather if you have, we've not been informed yet. But the year was 1968, it was only some few months after the incident at the refinery."

"Well, it is good to have it confirmed that I have not worried anyone then." A set of names, a date, and an incident at a refinery. This would take her a few hours to find and memorize the right journal tonight. "And to know that no one will worry about you. All the same, this isn't the calmest or most safe place."

Thing was... whoever this girl was, she had to be connected to the Doctor. No reason to know Me otherwise. And an assumed name all but guaranteed it. And Aunt Maddie? Means she or one of her parents was probably someone he abandoned at some point. So she'd rather keep her away from the Doctor until she knew more. But not knowing how clever the girl is, keeping her here could be dangerous.

Victoria was a fairly compliant little girl and she trusted whom she thought was her Aunt Maddie. If she told her that it was dangerous to go outside, Victoria would remain inside. While her adoptive parents had a run-in with the Doctor it was she herself whom had traveled with him. Short though it was. All of their names might've been in those journals.

"Not that I know of at least. I don't remember either Maggie or Frank saying something about you being missing, Aunt Maddie. Nor did I hear anything myself." She was a little relieved that no one would know she was gone. It would make things a little easier on herself knowing she wasn't causing the Harris' to be concerned. "What sort of things happen here that makes it... unsafe?"

"There are monsters unlike any I've ever seen before on Earth here." Which was true, but covered less of the present monsters than Victoria might realize. And... she needed to check her journal to see if she know of any issues in Victoria's life with Weeping Angles or Daleks, since both races had a presence here now. And Rusty... Well.... that could get tricky if Victoria knew what a Dalek was. She might have to have Rusty lay low for a bit...

"There are also what they call Storms. Basically they temporarily alter reality. Both for the world around us, and for our memories. Some seem to affect only some people, some effect everyone. False memories, false reality. In one, I was a child again, a student in a school. That might have been pleasant enough, except that there was a creature who made himself look like a child that was using the Storm as a cover to try to kill people. There are places to go to be safe from the Storms, but they are short term bolt holes, not fit to live in long term."

But that might be a good place to stash her for the night. Helix, perhaps, where bending didn't work, and no one went much....

"That can be a rather wide amount of creatures then, can't it?" Daleks were something she was altogether far too familiar with. They had kidnapped her and forced her to eat in order to maintain her health while she was kept from her father and Maxtible. Her father had been working on research involving time travel which had led to the accidental arrival of the daleks — whom eventually used her as means to force Maxtible and her father to kidnap the Doctor. She had been meant to be used in an experiment they wanted to try that would involve them gaining "the human quality." She hadn't been all that keen on the pepper shaker aliens ever since the whole ordeal, especially since her father died in the chaos.

The information regarding the storms sounded just as bad as any creatures that might be lurking about, if not worse. She frowned. The knowledge that there were some places as temporary relief was nice though it would have been better to locate somewhere permanently capable of avoidance. What was it about the safeguards that only lasted so long one had to wonder? "So the storms are like other realities, temporarily altering ones state of mind and being?"

A smile like she was proud of her for being bright. "An excellent summation. During the school storm, I genuinely thought I was that little girl. There are those here who insist upon calling me by her name still, knowing well that I hate that name, and the reminders of being that girl. It was an... unpleasant storm, for me." Bit of a lie there, but one that will neatly keep Victoria from taking Rose's side on the whole Ashildr thing. She hoped.

It sounded like it had the ability to be a very, very confusing thing to get stuck in. Especially if whilst in the middle of it one truly believed whatever scenario they were placed in. She supposed that it might make sense to those around her whom had been in the same storm to want to call her by whatever they may have met her as. Though that only served to have her realize that whatever happened during those storms stuck with them once over. Otherwise, how would her Aunt Maddie even be telling her about them? It must be a terribly awkward thing to have to deal with as the aftermath.

"I can see why they might want to call you whatever they met you as, but, even if I might see you in another reality because of those... storms, you can be relieved to know that I promise right now: I shan't call you anything but Aunt Maddie once I've returned to my normal state of being." Even though she hoped with every fiber of her small existence that she would never, ever have to suffer through a storm of any kind.

"Thank you so very much," she said. Well, that took care of that, at least. "Though I hope you shall never have to suffer so unpleasant a storm."

Yeah, she needed to stash the kid somewhere so she could read her journals, ASAP.

She was an incredibly easy young lady to get to follow rules, regulations and anything that might be told was for her well being. So her aunt likely wouldn't have much trouble to get her to hide somewhere — all she need do is ask.

"You and myself both." It was the least of things she wanted.

"Thank you. I think that perhaps I should get you settled in one of the safe areas tonight, just in case, while I make preparations for you to have a place to stay."

A good idea.

"Yes, alright. Can you perhaps show me where to go?"

"Of course. I will take you there, get you settled, then make a run to town for supplies for you, for tonight."

That brought a smile to her face. It was difficult to be as pessimistic as she usually was in this situations with someone she knew she could trust. Even though the Doctor was someone well trusted, too. It was somehow easier with her Aunt Maddie. Perhaps because ( as far as she knew ) Maddie wasn't someone who had gotten stuck in a number of awful incidents. She was just someone who wanted to help. The Doctor always had his reasons for helping, too, of course. It just happened that his helping always ended up with frights and the possibilities of death.

"Thank you, Aunt Maddie. I don't know what I would do were you not about to help me with this madness."

"Of course," she said with a warm smile. "I'm glad I am here, if it means that I am here for you."

Ever the kindness. Victoria nodded and motioned for her aunt to lead the way. "Are we leaving now?"

She stood and nodded. "Do you need a jacket?"

Anyone who saw them together would presume that this was Clara..... But she'd deal with that if it happened.

With any luck no one would call her Clara as it would throw her off and cause her to think that something even more ludicrous was happening. It wasn't often she was mistaken for other, random people after all.

"I should be fine, thank you."

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