(no subject)

[ladyoftime]

The Doctor tapped the glass walls surrounding herself and her companion. Solid. No exits. Someone was clever, very clever. Maybe as clever as she. She turned to Diane, who had been waiting patiently. “We might be here a while.”

Diane stretched her legs out on the ground. “Is there anyone in the universe who isn’t waiting to imprison us?” She reached for her cigarettes, but the Doctor forestalled that with a warning glance.

“I have friends!” The Doctor tried not to take notice of Diane’s disbelieving stare. “They’re around.”

“Where?” Diane challenged. “Why don’t you take me to meet some of them?”

“Because we’re in a glass cage,” the Doctor pointed out reasonably. “I’ll take you to meet some friends another time.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Diane once more tried to reach for her pack of cigarettes. The Doctor grabbed her wrist.

“This room’s not airtight, but I don’t want to test how good its ventilation system is.” She confiscated the pack and shoved a few jelly babies into Diane’s hand in their place. “Have a few of these. They’re good.”

Diane sighed and crossed her arms, a gesture less dramatic from her seat on the floor. The glass wasn’t particularly comfortable, but they’d at least determined that it wasn’t likely to shatter under their weight. Too strong for that. “Couldn’t you use the sonic screwdriver?”

“Can’t use anything sonic. Too likely it’ll shatter something and bring the whole cage down on our heads.” the Doctor answered, letting her back slide down the wall until she rested in a sitting position on the floor next to Diane. She leaned her head against the wall and stared up at the ceiling. There was a curtain covering the cage, serving the dual purpose of letting in enough light for them to see by and preventing them from seeing anything beyond the cage. Oh, someone was clever. “I’ve got fond of this regeneration. I’m not ready to let it go yet.” Not finding it necessary to point out that Diane didn’t have any regenerations. Humans could be very hard to kill, but once they were dead, that was it.

“What do we do now?”

“Could play I Spy,” the Doctor suggested before realising there wasn’t much to spy. Once it was said, she did her very best to continue. “I spy with my little eye something beginning with ‘d’.”

“Doctor, Diane, or dark. Or any combination of those,” Diane answered tiredly.

The Doctor deflated at this casual dismissal, but rallied bravely. “Could have a sing-along!” She straightened up and awkwardly threw an arm around Diane’s shoulder in what could have been her attempt at simulated campfire camaraderie. “‘A wand’ring minstrel, I, a thing of shreds and patches. Of ballad songs and snatches, and dreamy lullaby-’” Her voice petered out when she noticed Diane showed no inclination to join in. A deck of cards was produced from her jacket. “Pick a card.”

“Doctor-“ Diane’s gaze was caught by something glittering on the floor. “What’s that?”

“What?” The Doctor followed Diane’s gaze. “Nothing, just a ring. Must have fallen out of my pocket.”

“Is that a diamond?” Diane leaned forward to get a better look.

“Yes,” the Doctor felt strangely embarrassed and started to shove it back into her jacket.

“Couldn’t you use that to cut our way out of here?”

The Doctor opened her mouth to list the reasons she couldn’t and shut it again with the realization she didn’t have any. “Do you know, I think I could.”

It was only the careful work of a few minutes before the Doctor pushed aside the curtain, revealing the room outside their cage. “Now we’re getting somewhere,” she said with satisfaction and held out a hand to help Diane through the exit she had carved in the glass. “Do you know, I think I’ll take you to meet some friends of mine next trip.”


Prompt: 048, "diamond"
Word Count: 650
Rating: G
Summary: "Is there anyone in the universe who isn’t waiting to imprison us?"
Author's Notes: The Doctor 'n' Diane Era. Just a little bit of hijinks for the duo. With thanks to Hilary for beta help.