Bow Ties Are Cool

@bow-tied; In Which Old ‘Friends’ Meet Again.

theexiledqueen:

Don’t - I don’t want to hear this. I don’t want to hear any of it! [If the Rani could stuff her fingers into her ears to block out the sound of his voice, she would. This entire conversation makes her feel ill, and she’s only vaguely aware of the fact that she’s shaking - whether from rage or fear is unclear. Maybe it’s a mixture of the two; her emotions are so muddled, she can barely decipher them herself.] Just - SHUT UP.

It turned out to be one hell of a surprise though, didn’t it? I couldn’t have devised a more perfect punishment for you even if I tried which is just the icing on top of the cake, darling. [She sneers, trying in vain to wrench her wrist out of his grasp. Her blood beginning to boil.] Comparing me to Rassilon, hmm? And I thought you couldn’t possibly sink any lower. I’m nothing like that monster! NOTHING! [It’s at this point that tears of frustration, of anger, of helplessness begin to roll hotly down her cheeks, and her voice cracks, while she sinks to the ground.] …Nothing. [His words, had finally hit home.]

[The Doctor looked shocked, at her, at himself, and he found his grip slipping off of her wrist as she sunk down. He glanced at his hand as though it was the cause for everything — and in a way, he bitterly reminded himself, it was.]

Rani… [he started slowly, crouching down in front of her, hands hovering as though to touch her shoulders, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to] Rani, I’m… I didn’t- [he sighed; there was a time he might have laughed at seeing his old antagonist break, but now? It just makes him feel sick.] Rani, I’m afraid I can’t leave you to continue on your… business. You know that. I don’t want to have to hurt you, but I will if I must. So I’m giving you a choice, and I hope you’re intelligent enough to pick the right one. You can come with me — on my TARDIS, where I can… [keep an eye on you, he almost says, but he isn’t so sure she’d like it put that way, so he just trails awkwardly off] 

… Or, I can stop this in a more traditional sense, which will only end badly for one or both of us. It’s your call.