riverviewlogs | [open] housewarming

Entry tags:

✖ doctor who: bill potts

[open] housewarming

who: Bill Potts and you!
what: making the TARDIS feel like home
when: throughout November
where: shops around town, in a park under a bridge
warnings: n/a, will edit as necessary

[ Bill has officially been living in the TARDIS ever since she was given the key and found it parked under a bridge in a park downtown. It didn't take long to move all her things there; she didn't have as much to move this time around. But even still, the TARDIS doesn't feel like a home. Or, more correctly, it doesn't feel like her home. She still feels like she's just borrowing space from the absent Doctor, waiting for him to come back or for the TARDIS to kick up again and take her to him. She doesn't know how to fly the thing, so it's only really good to her as a place to live.

So, she decides to make it feel more like somewhere she'd want to live.

She visits various shops in town, buying furniture and home decor. A lamp here, a throw rug there. Lots of wood and bright, warm colors. Piece by piece, she takes it back to the park, to that spot under the bridge where the bright blue police box is parked. Find her shopping, or bringing her purchases back to the park. Maybe you even find her carrying a large, rolled up rug that by all means shouldn't fit inside that police box, and walking right through the open door. ]

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[Once he'd noticed that the same woman had been taking several trips under the bridge several times, Odo became curious. Where exactly was she taking this furniture? It was possible she was stealing or looting, which case the constable really should be investigating further.

With duty in mind, he walks around to view the situation from a different angle, and sees the large blue box. He wasn't sure what it was, but the text above suggested it was police property of some sort. Feeling he had enough of a reason to at least ask a few questions, he quickly shifts so that he was wearing the Riverview police uniform, and approaches.]

Excuse me, what are you doing?

[ What is Bill doing? She's currently struggling with a heavy box, trying to unlock the door to the TARDIS without dropping the parcel in her arms. When suddenly, there's a... policeman questioning her. She stops for a moment, realizes how this must look. Her trying to get into a police box.

She freezes, turns to face him. ]

It's not what it looks like. I have a key!

[Seeing her struggle with the box he comes over, offering in a gesture to take it from her. He's obviously curious about the police box, though, as he keeps glancing at it.]

A key to... what, exactly?

[That's right. A police officer that doesn't know what a police box is.]

[ She gratefully allows him to take the heavy box from her, now better able to unlock the door to the TARDIS. ]

To my... police box. [ She isn't sure if she should be going around telling just anyone what the TARDIS is. It isn't really even hers, after all. And the Doctor isn't here. ]

[The weight of the package doesn't seem to bother him, but at that answer he gives her a dubious look.]

Your police box. I see. Are you a law enforcement official?

[He might not know what it's for, but it looks to be police property as far as he can tell. Who knows where she could have gotten the key.]

Edited 2017-11-20 17:08 (UTC)

[ Bill instantly backpedals. ]

What? I-- No, it's not really a police box police box. It's not... It's from home. My home. It doesn't belong to the police.

[The constable had no real means to verify her story, but she didn't give any signs to indicate she was not telling the truth. Still, her statement confuses him, and it shows on his face.]

Ah.

[He looks at the booth again, trying to make sense of what it was, but unable to see inside from this angle he was limited. When he speaks next his voice is less authoritative, and a bit softer.]

...and what is a police box?

[ Bill looks surprised. Shouldn't he know? He's wearing a police uniform, after all.

Maybe he's from the future or another world or something. He certainly looks alien. ]

It's, erm, a phone box? That you can use to call the police. See?

[ She walks over to the panel on the side of the TARDIS, pulling it open to reveal a telephone receiver inside. ]

[He peeks in at the phone curiously, then backs up to eye the whole box.]

Did this come with you through the portal?

[There's also the question of where she planned to put all these furnishings, but investigating the portal and methods of arrival took priority for the moment.]

Not... at the same time, but it came through the portal, yeah.

[ At least, that's how she'd assumed it got there when the TARDIS showed up without the Doctor inside it. ]

Interesting. I've heard of other things coming through separately, but I didn't think of something this large.

[He makes a mental note of it, then turns back to furniture to try to solve this other mystery. Perhaps she was homeless? The possibility of theft came to mind again, but he reserves his judgement for now.]

What were you planning to do with all...this?

You don't know the half of it... [ She mutters under her breath. The inside of the TARDIS is massive. ]

Oh, I was just... Storing it. In here. I'm moving out of the communal housing.

[ She doesn't mention that she's moving INTO the police box. ]

[Furrowing his hairless brows, Odo looks from the pile of belongings to the police box, and back again.]

I can't blame you for that but... I wouldn't be so sure those things will all fit in there.

[ Bill gets a feeling if this conversation goes on too much longer, she's going to end up spilling more about the TARDIS than she's strictly comfortable with, so she moves to take the heavy box back from the policeman. ]

That's alright, I'm sure I'll find roo--!

[ Just as she is about to turn away from him and head back into the TARDIS, she slips and the box begins to slide out of her grip! ]

[As she slips, Odo instantly breaks his humanoid form to allow both his arms to stretch out and become amber colored liquid tentacles. One reaches out to wrap around the box to prevent it from falling, and the other around the woman's shoulders to keep her upright.]

Oh--! [ Is all Bill has a chance to say as she watches the policeman reshape himself, turning liquid and flexible as he swiftly catches the falling box. She peers down at the arm around her shoulders, mouth wide. ]

You're-- [ Like her. ] What are you?

[Once the box is securely on the ground and Bill is on safely on her feet, he lets go and draws himself together again, forming his previous appearance.

The question is not unexpected, and Odo answers without hesitation. He had learned not to be ashamed of what he was.]

I'm a changeling... are you all right?

[ Maybe not exactly like her. But still, alien! Interesting. ]

Yeah. I'm fine. [ Sorry, she's so curious. She doesn't think what she is is a changeling, as she's still... Bill-shaped. It's just that sometimes, she's dripping water. ]

Sorry. That was... You're made of liquid?

[It wasn't a typical follow up question which made Odo wonder if she was some kind of scientist. Usually the first thing people wanted to know was what he could change into, or what he 'really' looked like.]

In my natural state I am a gelatinous liquid, yes.

Right. Sorry, it's just... I am too. Sort of.

[ She hasn't met anyone who was like her, aside from Heather. So he'll have to excuse her while she freaks out a bit. ]

[That surprises him, the conversation suddenly changing from mundane to quite interesting. Her reaction made Odo wonder if she had ever met someone similar to herself before - was she one of the hundred? As much as he could hope, something seemed off about that idea. There's a delay before he replies, nodding his head slowly in understanding.]

...I see. I take it that this isn't common where you come from?

[A pause, then he adds;]

What do you mean by 'Sort of?'

[ There is a lot of stuff going into that little box.

Poe was in the park, letting BB-8 explore, which is when he (and BB-8) spotted the police box. The little droid tried to do a scan of it and, to both their confusion, couldn't get any clear readings off it.

They took a page from Finn's careful book and retreated to watch for a bit. A bit during which Bill has made several trips carrying things of various sizes.

When she comes out after hauling that rolled up rug into the box, Poe and BB-8 are waiting a respectful distance away. ]

Hey. [ He's a little mystified as to what else he should say, so he says: ] That was a big rug.

[ She wasn't expecting anyone to be standing outside waiting for her. It's a little disconcerting, and makes Bill freeze in her steps. ]

Oh. Erm... Yes, it was.

Sorry, do I know you?

[ Poe blinks, realizing that he probably looks like a weirdo. ]

Right, sorry. [ He offers his hand. ] Poe Dameron. This is BB-8.

[ A look of recognition crosses Bill's face. ]

So you're BB-8!

[ She shakes Poe's hand. ] Bill Potts. I saw BB-8's message on the network, looking for you. I'm glad you two found each other

Ah, yeah, the lost pilot notice. [ Poe grins. ] He made a few friends through that thing.

[ BB-8 chirps cheerfully, clearly regretting nothing.

Poe raises his eyebrows and nods to the blue box behind her. ] So... do you need help moving furniture?

Oh, erm... [ Bill glances back at the TARDIS, still unsure whether she should let anyone inside without the Doctor's permission-- which he can't exactly give, as he's in a different universe. ]

I've got it, thanks.

Okay. [ Poe scratches the back of his head, still curious, but not wanting to be a jerk about it.

EH, HE'LL GO FOR IT. ] So how did that thing fit in there anyway?

[ Bill's jaw drops. How is she going to explain this one without giving the Doctor's secrets away? ]

Oh, it's... very full in there. Quite full. Not much room.

[ Poe's eyebrows go up, his chin lifts, basically his entire mode of expression is one big right, uh huh, that's all it is. ] Okay.

[ Rude as he is comfortable being, her business is still her business. ]

Right. So I'll just... Um...

[ Change the subject really quick because she is being incredibly suspicious right now, she realizes. ]

So are you settling in alright? The two of you?

[ Don't laugh, don't laugh, don't laugh.

Ha he managed for once not to do the thing he was telling himself not to do. ]

Yeah, actually. A couple of my friends are here, which isn't great, but still nice. If that makes sense.

It does, actually.

[ Bill smiles in a way that's fond, but a little sad. ]

I had a friend here, too, when I first got here.

[ That... gives Poe pause. There's sympathy on his face and in his voice when he says, simply: ] Yeah?

Yeah, em, he's... Gone, now. He went back through the portal.

I've heard that can happen.

[ He says it the same way someone else might say I'm sorry for your loss.]

Yeah, it can.

[ Said in the way someone might say, Thanks. ]

But it's alright. I have this, to remember him by.

[ She gestures to the TARDIS. ]

[With a certain new arrival from Purgatorium, it was only logical that the small apartment Ed and Al had been remodeling to move into needed expanding. Needed to actually feel like a home, because there was no way Valeria would be living in the bare bones kitchen with a bed set up that the boys found acceptable. Which meant not only expanding into the building next door once again, transmuting the space into something livable once again, but also .... shopping. To say that Edward was not a fan was an understatement, but there were things that he felt were his responsibility, and he wouldn't ask the others to partake in. If Al disapproved or Val wanted to edit to her own taste later, that was on them. For now, Ed was just looking for something functional.

So while Bill is choosing between lamps she might find herself beside one familiar blond alchemist, squinting at another model curiously, as if this was the hardest decision he'd have to make all day.]

I didn't realize they came in so many varieties.... Whatever happened to on and off?

[ Bill can't help but laugh at that. The lamp selection is really much more complex than she'd thought it would be. ]

I know, right? It's mad. Now they have dimmer switches, and different color bulbs and smart features you can turn on and off with voice commands...

[He had to grin at the laugh, sheepish. At least, as dumb as he felt in this environment, he wasn't entirely alone.]

Voice-

[Okay, this was all beyond him. Maybe he'd just have Val pick out lamps.]

This is ridiculous. I didn't realize furnishing a place was so... complicated.

[Who knew? Everywhere he'd ever stayed before came fully furnished. Maybe staying in the communal building wasn't so bad an idea, after all. After a moment, as if seriously considering his options he glances to Bill curiously, quirking a brow.]

Any ideas on what you're going with?

Seems like everything is complicated, these days. [ Lamps included.

Bill hums thoughtfully, looking over the selection. ]

That one, probably. [ She points out a modern-looking boxy lamp in the middle of the display. ] It sort of looks like a moon, and we're on a moon, so... Yeah. That one.

[This is entirely accurate, still looking almost politely amused.]

You can say that again.

[Ed peers at the lamp curiously, eyes narrowing as if considering her explanation for the choice thoughtfully. It's an interesting logic, he'll give her that.]

I guess it does, doesn't it? I might leave this up to ... some else.

[Someone who knew what they were doing or cared more. There was someone in the house that applied to, right? At the very least though, he could make conversation while investigating all the weird stuff he definitely wasn't making any decisions on today.]

So, are you remodeling or moving?

Oh! [ Bill smiles sheepishly. ] A little bit of both, actually. Moving into a place that needs redecorating.

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