Who ever thought that wagon travel was a good idea?

[likesimpossible]

Who: The Tenth Doctor and OPEN.
Where: The Oregon Trail.
When: 8/31 to 9/4.
Rating: PG-13, but probably variable.
Summary: The Doctor strikes out on an adventure, has a good two days, contracts an illness and dies, and then becomes a ghost.
The Story:

Day One

It doesn't take the Doctor long to realize what's going on when the mansion changes and vendors selling various useful but slightly antiquated goods crops up. That, and the sudden appearance of wagons, makes things very clear, and for some reason he can't quite explain, this just excites him.

Granted, he feels just a bit odd, what with the new clothes he's wound up in, and of course, he still can't forget the fact that he's been turned human for the second or third time now, but the excitement of adventure is just unavoidable.

When he's not buzzing around gathering supplies for the journey, he's just wandering around looking for people to join him on the trip, because it would be a long and lonely one if he didn't have someone to come alongside.

Day Two

The second day of the trip sees the Doctor and his traveling companions through quite a few harrowing adventures, from nearly sinking as they attempt to cross a river to trying to take down a herd of buffalo.

Not the entire herd, now, but at least one or two sizable specimens to provide them with food. But either way, there's guns and ammunition and the odd buffalo and other creatures just plodding by their wagon.

It seems like it would be a shame to pass up this opportunity. Or at least, that's what the Doctor tells himself as he somewhat reluctantly loads up his gun and looks for a target.

Days Three and Four

By the third day, some of the fun and excitement has dwindled. Somehow, or by terrible luck, the Doctor's failed to hunt and bring home a buffalo, and the supplies are slowly running out. But then there's a brief glimpse of hope when an outpost appears in the distance. Just maybe it'll be their saving grace.

...Except once they get to said outpost rather early in the morning, there's nothing there but clocks, so they have no choice but to continue and ignore the increasing empty space in the back of the wagon.

Fast forward to several hours later, and the Doctor's no longer at the head of the wagon. He's lying down in the back, feeling the worst that he's ever felt in his long life. Or at least, it feels like it's the worst. He's feverish and tired, and really, it's like nothing he's experienced before now.

It's miserable, and he's miserable, and he can't do anything about it but lie there and hope that it passes quickly, one way or another.

But luck isn't with him, and as time passes, the Doctor only gets worse until the evening of the fourth day, the sickness finally overtakes him and he dies.

Day Five

Well, then, what's a ghostly Doctor to do? There seems to be quite a few options open to him, but he spends most of his time flitting back and forth between wagons, looking for people to trouble with his relentless commentary and oh-so-helpful comments.

But really, can anyone blame him? Being a ghost is considerably better than dying in the back of a wagon, and after going through that unpleasantness, the Doctor just wants to put it from his mind and hover around as a ghost until this completely mad event ends.

Good luck, everyone, you're now going to have a ghost-Doctor paying you a visit.

Comments

Day Two

[no_eels]

While this venture hasn't turned out too badly for Toothless, by day two he's gotten separated from Hiccup and he's feeling a bit less confident than he was. He sticks with what wagons he can find, but often he loses sight of them. Luckily, scents and keen draconic hearing cover for his visual inadequacies. And today, he smells food. Meat, to be specific.

His stomach is already rumbling by the time he trots over a hill to spot the dead buffalo, and he pauses. Dead buffalo means the vikings have those loud stick things. And those hurt. That's what he's heard, at least.

So he freezes in place, green eyes wide, and waits to see what the reaction to his presence is.

[likesimpossible]

The Doctor's not really comfortable wielding a gun, and neither is he really fond of the idea of shooting an animal, but it's either that or starve, and he's not keen on that either. Reluctance shows itself clearly in his stance, but that's quickly replaced by tension as he hears footfalls coming closer to where he's standing, with a buffalo he's felled lying not too far away.

Of course, when he realizes who it is and recognizes Toothless, he relaxes again and waves at the dragon.

"Hello again! It's alright, you can come closer if you want to." He sets the gun down, having had enough of it for a little while.

[no_eels]

Recognizing the viking who doesn't quite smell like a viking — not as unique a scent in Wonderland as you might think — Toothless trills, high. A greeting, as he saunters past the dead animal. His stomach is grumbling just being this close to it, but he doesn't make any moves on the thing. Not until he knows if it's all right. Surely the vikings don't need all of the creature?

Then again, perhaps they do.

Still, his priority is to nudge his head gently against the Doctor's leg, asking for attention in the plainest way he knows how. It's been a grueling couple of days.

[likesimpossible]

Right now, he probably smells more like a viking than he's ever done before, since this event has rendered non-humans human, for the most part, but still, maybe there's some residual not-viking scent left. Either way, the Doctor just lights up upon spotting the dragon, and his smile only grows wider when Toothless nudges his leg.

"How're you doing? Holding up all right?" He reaches out to scratch behind the dragon's ear before he gestures to the animal he's just taken down. "I don't think I'll be needing all of this, if you happen to be hungry. It's a bit much for one person, so I don't mind sharing."

He wouldn't mind sharing either way, but really, why waste a perfectly good food source?

[no_eels]

Toothless' shoulders seem to relax as the Doctor scratches him behind his huge, flappy ears. Some of today's venture has been very lonely, such as losing sight of Hiccup and not being able to find him again, his scent lost to the dust of the trail. Getting attention from someone is a balm against the stresses of the day.

He glances at the buffalo, and his stomach gives another loud grumble. Really, he doesn't need much more invitation, in his present state. The weary Nightfury gives the Doctor another affectionate nudge before sinking his teeth into the body of the fallen beast.

[likesimpossible]

This is cathartic for him as well as the dragon, because the trip up till now hasn't been a walk in the park. It hasn't been bad, but it's been grueling and not something that happens to the Doctor every day. It's not really something that happens to anyone every day, unless of course they actually are pioneers who travel around with all their things in the back of a wagon.

But he stands back as the dragon goes for the buffalo, watching him eat his fill. "I don't know how long this event is going to last, but as long as it is going on, if you get hungry, I think you and I can work something out." As far as partners go, Toothless seems like someone he wants to keep around.

[no_eels]

Buffalo is a new taste, but one Toothless thinks he likes. It's different, certainly. But he can't argue with a full stomach, and so when he finally looks up at the Doctor — his teeth and lips are a grisly sight — the Nightfury looks almost content. Almost, because Hiccup is still out there somewhere. But at least his stomach is no longer growling at him.

He cocks his head at the idea of an agreement. He's game, though he's not altogether certain what he can bring to it. Aside from his own considerable hunting skills, of course, where buffalo aren't involved.

Hitting one with a fireball seems like a bad idea, somehow, though he'll do it if necessary.

[likesimpossible]

It's barely there, but there's just a flash of distaste as the Doctor looks at Toothless, but he ignores it. It's just natural instinct for creatures, so showing that wouldn't do anything. Everyone has to find sustenance somehow, so it's not hard for the Doctor to push away his reaction.

"You don't have to agree, you know. Just thought I'd make an offer, just in case. Even if you'd rather not, you can always come back and have your fill."

In a situation like this, they all have to look out for each other, and that includes dragons and Time Lords-turned-human.

[no_eels]

Having such a giant tongue comes in handy for cleaning one's own face up. Toothless doesn't usually have this problem; he usually gobbles up fish in one bite, and there's never any mess unless the fish are particularly slimy. But this is different.

He licks at his snout and lips as he comes back around the buffalo to look, curiously, at the Doctor, trilling. He doesn't mind. The Doctor's been good to him, and he'd like to return the favor if he can.

Perhaps hanging around more vikings will mean that Toothless finds Hiccup faster.

[likesimpossible]

"There, isn't that better? You certainly seemed hungry." The Doctor grinned as the dragon came up to him. "As long as my luck holds out, not to mention the bullets, I should be able to have more for you later."

He wasn't really holding his breath, or relying on any sort of skill, since the idea of shooting an animal (or shooting anyone, for that matter) still rubbed him the wrong way, but surviving was more or less the priority here.

[no_eels]

Toothless certainly seems a lot less moody and uncertain than he had, just a few minutes ago. It's truly a wonder what food will do to the dragon. Sometimes he can be completely mopey and one handful of fish will brighten him right back up. And sometimes that little fact is very much taken advantage of by the vikings around him.

But this isn't a viking trying to distract him away from bad behavior. This is just a night — a lonely night, with Toothless separated from his best friend. It's a good thing he's found the Doctor.

He trills, sitting down next to the Doctor like a giant black dog. It's much better.

[likesimpossible]

The Doctor's thinking along similar lines as well. Before Toothless came along, he was on his own, except for the instances when he passed another wagon. But passing someone by doesn't really count as companionship, so he's glad Toothless is here. When the dragon sits beside him, he reaches out to give him a scratch behind his ears.

"You know, whether you're traveling along the Oregon Trail or you're just going for a walk somewhere, having someone alongside really makes the whole thing better. I'm glad you turned up when you did."

[no_eels]

The Nightfury glances around them, as if he's searching for another presence. Not finding one, he looks back at the Doctor, rumbling out a purr as he gets a scratch. It seems strange to the dragon that the Doctor is alone, but there are a number of explanations. The important part is that they were both lonely, but have now found some companionship for a while. That's Toothless' thoughts on the matter, at least, and he trills again, in a higher register.

He's glad to have found company, too.

And a meal.

But mostly, the company.