unbegotten (or: zeta and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad vacation)

[recalcitrare]

Comments

[recalcitrare]

[Before Zeta and Fevrain left Norton's home, there was one last thing he had to do.

Physically, it was rather simple. Zeta gently urged Norton's hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. It's neither firm nor lingering, but there's a definite purpose to it, and to the way Zeta held Norton's eyes during.

Psychically, Zeta was giving him one last gift. A simple-seeming package left at the edge of Norton's shields -- Yes, a box placed right where the empty stretch of meadow ended.

Within? A single blossom, otherworldly to observe with all the shimmer of the night sky filled with stars. Upon interaction, it blooms, galaxies unfurling like petals opening to emit a deep warmth. Affection. Admiration. Appreciation. All in a soft green haze, a cozy blanket not unlike the aroma of fresh tea, a sense of safety like being wrapped in a cloak, or tucked gently into bed.

And it carries a message, too, meaning clear and concise despite its lack of words. The universe is vast and cold and uncaring, the march of time relentless, even for the timeless.

But, says the blossom.

But, here is the reminder that out there, across the lonely reaches of time and space, someone cares about you. You, and your safety, and your happiness.

Zeta never breathes a word of the gift to anyone. Fevrain suspects something, he knows, but he doesn't explain. Fevrain, he can easily lavish with other gifts, and with more ample opportunity. This? It is for Norton and Norton alone. ]

[pharadyne]

[Norton flutters his eyelashes coquettishly as Zeta kisses his knuckles, thinking it's just a romantic gesture. But something about Zeta's manner seems more deliberate than that. He watches Zeta closely, trying to work out what it is, when he feels...something at the edge of his mind. Not an intrusion, not even a knock, just a quiet presence and then gone.

He catches Fevrain watching as well, eyes narrowed, and it confirms he wasn't imagining it.

Once the goodbyes are over and the two Gallifreyans have left, Norton sits on the edge of his settee and looks inward to see if he can solve the mystery. It's easier than he expected. A box, right there on the edge of the meadow, obvious, out in the open, clearly placed for him to find. He opens it, takes out the blossom and holds it in his hand, feels its message.

Time is different in the mind. He doesn't know how much time has passed before he notices that his cheeks are damp and his eyes stinging. He sets the blossom down carefully in the meadow (maybe it will seed?) and when he comes back to himself fully, he rushes to the door to...something. He's not sure what he intends to do or say but after something like that he can't just let Zeta fly away.

But the street is empty, a soft whir of a TARDIS dematerializing fading in the fog.]

[Much Later, In London]

[pharadyne]

[Norton minces down the street of Mandeville Walk, still in a sleek, silver spacesuit, helmet tucked under his arm. He's getting a few odd looks from passersby, but he's not perturbed by that.

He is perturbed by various conversations he's had recently. Armitage, torturing him and then flirting with him and making a bargain to allow Norton to work with him. Gideon, making not-so-veiled references to Norton's "true nature" being undesirably amoral.]

I'm doing the best I can. [Norton mutters to himself.] Yes, sometimes people get killed, but that's life, isn't it? Death is. I save far more people than get killed, so, on the whole, I think that means my true nature is very heroic.

[recalcitrare]

[Up ahead, a man is leaning against a bit of railing, hands in his pockets, suit jacket fully buttoned, curly hair already at odds with the weather. It certainly looks as though he's waiting for something -- or someone.]

Hello, Norton.

[pharadyne]

[Norton stops short at his name being called in a familiar voice. He stares, shakes his head slightly in surprise, stares some more.]

What? I say! Zeta? What are you doing here?

[And then another thought follows shortly after.]

Are your people responsible for the alien energy radiation I was just detecting?

[recalcitrare]

[Not quite the reaction he was hoping for, but... well. Under the circumstances.]

No. I didn't even notice it myself until my... ride already left. I've come to visit, as promised.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you're hard at work.

[pharadyne]

Very hard. [He'll drop that double-entendre with a slight purr.]

But all work and no play would make Norton a dull boy, so come with me to the pub and get a drink. Not the brandy, the brandy there is awful.

[recalcitrare]

Alright. Lead the way, dear.

[Very peaceable of Zeta, which would probably be alarming to hear for most people who know him. But he came here for Norton, to spend time with him, and he really has no reason to protest.]

What's wrong with their brandy, and only their brandy?

[pharadyne]

Oh, the other drinks might be appalling too, but the brandy's the only thing I've tried and absolutely do not intend to try again.

[recalcitrare]

[Zeta snorts.] You're not exactly selling me on this pub.

[pharadyne]

What it lacks in quality, it also lacks in ambiance. But it's the only one nearby.

You'll have me there to provide a decent view, however.

[recalcitrare]

Oh, I have no doubt you'll make it worthwhile, dear.

[He wishes he could reach out and take his hand. But there's the spacesuit, and it wouldn't be safe for Norton besides.

... which.]

How safe is it?

[pharadyne]

Hmmmm...from the state of the interior, it's not at imminent risk of the ceiling collapsing, but I'd say there's a fair to middle chance of coming down with a case of botulism if you eat the food.

[recalcitrare]

Hm? Oh -- No, that's not what I meant. Rather... How much am I going to need to be on best behavior while we're there?

[pharadyne]

Oh! [He forgets sometimes that Zeta isn't used to making these sorts of calculations. That he needs Norton to clue him in, can't just operate on instinct since he's had no need before to develop that instinct.]

Well...it's a pub in Soho, so "best" behaviour would probably fetch you odd looks. I think the landlady might throw you out if you requested more than one fork for your place setting. Didn't get the impression it catered to our sort of clientele specifically, though. My sense of things is that snogging over the table is probably too much, but the customers are largely either too drunk or too indifferent to care if we hold hands and gaze into each other's eyes.

[recalcitrare]

[So, all in all, could be worse.]

Noted. I'll still try and follow your lead, but... I'm looking forward to even that much.

It's good to see you, starlight.

[........ he might not have meant to say that last part out loud.]

[pharadyne]

Oh. [He says softly at the endearment and gazes at Zeta for a moment, eyes flitting around his face.]

Good to see you too. Not many people are glad to see me lately.

Mind if we drop by my room before drinks? I'd like to change into something more suitable. As in, a suit.

[recalcitrare]

[How badly Zeta wishes he could do... something, anything, in response to that statement. Take his hand or cup his cheek or kiss him. All he can do right now is gaze back steadily, all too aware of the softness at the corners of his eyes.

But Norton's room would provide them opportunity. And yes, Zeta came here specifically to spend time with him, so of course he wants that, but he suspects Norton needs it right now, too.]

Not in the least. Lead the way.

[pharadyne]

This way. It's not far.

[He walks close to Zeta, almost but not quite brushing hands.]

[recalcitrare]

[At the very least, this kind of restraint needed is deeply familiar. This isn't any different from going home with Fevrain after a long day. Norton is leading him to... a brothel. While it isn't what he was necessarily expecting, he supposes he isn't surprised. It's rather... active, too. This is one of those moments where Zeta is grateful he isn't like most Gallifreyans. He can handle it. ... And at least this one isn't under the influence of Azenes' psychic experiments.]

[pharadyne]

[He sees Zeta's expression when they enter, and he knows the sounds coming from upstairs are impossible to miss.]

Only place on the street with rooms for rent. Very affordable, too. Charged by the hour.

But best of all, in a brothel, they don't tend to look down on other people's vices.

[He rests a hand on Zeta's shoulder, then the other on his cheek, and steps close to snog him up against the nearest wall.]

[recalcitrare]

[Zeta opens his mouth, intending to explain himself, but then Norton is touching him -- his shoulder, his face, and anything he was about to say now seems rather unimportant. Especially as Norton is stepping up into him and kissing him and the next thing Zeta knows, his back is up against the wall. He makes a soft sound and slides his arms around Norton's waist, which... is made less satisfying by that damn spacesuit. So he changes track and instead runs both hands through Norton's hair.]

[pharadyne]

[Norton kisses and kisses and kisses until he's breathless, then draws away and rests his forehead on Zeta's.]

To the room?

[If Andy and Lizbeth are out investigating, as they should be, maybe he can lock the door and suggest a quick one before he drags Zeta into the Mandeville Walk mystery.]

[recalcitrare]

[The way Norton kisses him utterly melts Zeta's brain away. He'd almost forgotten his human warmth, the heat of his mouth, it's all so easy so easy to lose himself in.

If only the infernal spacesuit wasn't in the way... It's the only thought he can hold on to, and only because he wants to feel Norton up against him properly, wants it so badly it loops in his head. If only... If only...

He doesn't even realize he's swapped to his respiratory bypass until Norton breaks the kiss. Rassilon, he sounds lovely and irresistible when breathless.]

Yes... Yes. Of course, darling.

[pharadyne]

This way. It'll be the one that doesn't sound like an enthusiastic honeymoon suite.

[Norton takes Zeta's hand and leads him up one flight of stairs in three-story building and into his rented room. Andy and Lizbeth look to the door as Norton walks in and his heart sinks a little. So much for some time alone with Zeta.

Lizbeth glances at their joined hands.]

Who the hell is this? We leave you unsupervised for a few hours and you come back with a new special friend? Well you can't keep him even if he did follow you home.