every life is a pile of good things & bad things

[thedreamer]

WHO: The Doctor & Ghostbusters Friends!
WHEN: December
WHERE: The Inn & surrounding areas
WHAT: Shenanigans, trouble, bringing joy & confusion, more trouble, culinary delights!
WARNINGS: Will edit as needed.


[ A series of open & closed starters in the comments below. I am super happy to plot something and set up a custom starter if you prefer so please feel free to PM me or ping me on discord @ bluebox#8972 or plurk @ geekorthodox ]

Comments

( open ) the grounds - build a snow-shaped...thing?

[thedreamer]

[ There's a peace and stillness in the air after a blizzard, a quiet that settles over the land blanketed in snow. How much of his life has he had time to appreciate these moments? Snow is nothing new to him and he's always loved it, but rarely when he's standing out in it, is he afforded the opportunity to do anything at all with it, dashing from one thing to the next as he so often is.

Lately, the Doctor has been acquainted with the strangest feelings of serenity lurking deep down on quiet occasions like this. It's enough to have developed an unfamiliar fondness for these moments, such that he even seeks them out for a short while.

Of course, he wouldn't be the Doctor if he just stood there gazing out at the snow. The peace of a tranquil morning can only last so long with a fidgety Time Lord lurking about. Realizing that a member of their group is just passing by next to him, the Doctor won't hesitate to turn, smile, and make an offer he assumes can't be refused. ]

You weren't going to do something boring like lurk around inside all day? Come on, let's go out! [ He nods to the grounds surrounding them. ]

Build a snow-shaped person or...creature. A dinosaur, perhaps! Something different. I'm open to ideas, though. Let's crack on, shall we?

[spellsandcharms]

[ The stillness draws Sarah out, red hair wild around her face and cup of coffee in hand. She's always been loud, but she appreciates the quiet, the calm. And it beats the hell out of the last few weeks. ]

You aren't serious.

[ For all she might look like River Song's somewhat older doppelganger, her accent is American, and she's looking at him like he may have hit his head recently.

She's too old to play in the snow. ]

[thedreamer]

[ Well, there are a few things about both her and her reaction that don't surprise him at all: people often look at him as though he's hit his head recently, and he has, of course, seen her face before on the network. The great big universe, people are bound to have doppelgangers running about. Romana had even appropriated Princess Astra's face when she regenerated. Obviously, this is different, but not enough to give him any sort of pause. ]

I'm always serious. I do take off on Tuesdays, though. And sometimes every third Friday.

[cairhien]

A dinosaur?

( she laughs slightly, a softer, lighter sound than she's known from herself in quite some time, though moiraine does at least step closer, curious at some of the shapes that he's making )

And what is a dinosaur?

[thedreamer]

Oh, that won't do, that won't do at all.

[ That she's not familiar with them, that is. But now he gets the joy of explaining it all to her. ]

Dinosaurs were big, beautiful creatures that roamed the Earth, oh long ago now. Well, depending on your point of view and your place in history. Mostly reptiles, and nearly all extinct, though some evolved into what humans modernly refer to as birds.

This one-[ He's trying to shape a brontosaurus out of the snow, though only half its body is done. ]-one of my favorites. Probably shouldn't play favorites, but I do adore these ones. Brontosaurus.

( open ) the grounds - trapped outside after curfew

[thedreamer]

[ For anyone who knows the Doctor at all, it's almost entirely expected that he was bound to be locked out of the Inn after curfew at least once. He has multiple watches on his person, it should be an easy enough thing, but working against him is his tendency to get distracted and fascinated by one thing or another. They've been here for days and yet he's still finding so much to explore. He'll never tire of that.

Unfortunately, it means that he's ended up locked out of the Inn. Not the ideal situation, but it won't incite any ire on his part; it was his fault, after all. ]

Okay! Fine! Fair enough, that one's on me. Do lose track a bit sometimes...

[ He glances at his wristwatch, more out of habit than anything else. It's quite a bit later than he even realized. The Doctor's unique physiology means that he can tolerate more extreme temperatures much easier than a human body, so he doesn't feel the chill quite as much. More than anything, he's just worried about being bored through the night.

So it's with absolute delight that he reacts upon seeing a member of their group there with him when he turns around. ]

A turn of good fortune, I'd say, the pair of us out here together! Excellent. Not to worry, I know just how to pass the time.

[ There are, perhaps, many things to worry about when one is trapped outside in the cold and the dark at night, but this hasn't crossed his mind at the moment. ]

[scrapgege]

[For Xie Lian, it's just his usual bad luck, plain and simple, that saw him locked out. He's been doing chores all day, so he would have liked some hot food and rest, but honestly, in the realm of things that have happened to him in his long life, one night locked out in the cold with no food barely even registers. It's happened before, it might happen again, who knows.

He too does not really register the cold. Not that he doesn't feel it, but given that it will not kill him, it's one of the many aches and pains that just barely registers for him these days.

He's still only wearing his thin white robes - although layered - and his bamboo hat, but with two notable additions : the ribbon holding the hat is now red, and he is also carrying a sword.

And he gives a small, embarrassed laugh.]

It was just a matter of time before it would happen to me, really.

... And I don't think you need to be worried about passing the time. We're not alone.

[thedreamer]

[ The Doctor levels a glance and a small smile in the direction of his companion. It's good to see him again, after everything that's happened. He does, at least, notice that Xie Lan is a bit under-dressed by the standards of most in their group, but then again, neither one of them are quite like many of the others in their group, either. ]

Quite right! It was only a matter of time for me, too. No great bother, really, being out here, though perhaps not as comfortable as our accommodations.

Have you been alright?

[natos]

Passing the time wasn't really the first thing that came to mind.

( she'd been out too late still continuing her search for the missing hunter, though it was just as likely that he'd been found by now and eve just hadn't heard about it. she was used to things like this running late, getting caught up in them and not giving up, she always had even before the library had become her life.

except usually when she found herself stuck places it wasn't in the snow nor cold. sure, eve wasn't as affected by the cold as she likely should be (which was weird but she was new at being immortal) but she still realised that it was cold and being out here all night wasn't a good thing )

Maybe we should find somewhere to shelter first.

[thedreamer]

Well, I was going to suggest a rousing game of blind man's buff, but I suppose shelter wouldn't hurt. Probably a good idea! I'm sure we can come up with a decent enough game once we've found a spot to hunker down.

[ As if playing a game of any sort is really the most important thing at the moment. His priorities are, perhaps, a bit skewed. ]

Left, right, forward, back? I'm a big fan of left lately, shall we try and see what we find?

[clavesregni]

[It's easy to lose track of time out in the forest. Caitlyn hadn't realized how much she'd been missing running through the trees, rifle in hand, until she'd gotten away from the inn and just allowed herself free reign. She didn't go too far, of course - these woods are unfamiliar, and she knows how easy it is to get lost.

It's probably because she doesn't know these woods well and didn't venture far beyond the inn's grounds that she's failed to catch a single animal. She'd thought hunting could be useful, a way to earn her keep by providing food for the inn, but here she is, rifle slung over her shoulder, trudging back empty-handed.

And... Locked out.

That's a bit disconcerting, given that she's never spent a night outdoors and hasn't the faintest idea how to keep warm overnight.

Her breath steams in the increasingly frosty air.]

You don't suppose there's a way to break in, do you?

[thedreamer]

Oh, there is, absolutely. There's always a way in!

[ He's glad to see his friend again (friend, because of course she is), though despite his nonchalance, he would posit that perhaps the circumstances are less than ideal. Still, it's a vast improvement over being chased by assorted and fairly horrifying creatures in the Tower.

It only belatedly occurs to him that his answer wasn't really a full answer and that it might be a good idea to actually offer a suggestion of how to break in. Pulling out his sonic-less screwdriver from his pocket, he grins brightly and holds it up. ]

I've had luck with this in the past, though I suppose it depends on how well secured their hinges are. If this doesn't work, we'll discuss plan B! Or C or D, if it comes to it.

( open) the inn - proust's madeleine

[thedreamer]

[ The Doctor doesn't have much reason to cook often in his travels, his TARDIS providing everything he needs. Or his psychic paper, when he's planet-side and needs something in a pinch, but he experiences hunger much differently than his human companions so it's not generally a concern of his. But he's dabbled with cooking and fancies himself quite good at it.

If they're going to be stuck here for a bit, he's eager to stay busy and be helpful, and what could be more helpful than contributing to the provisions shared amongst their group? He works quickly, meals made swiftly alongside others in their group toiling about in the kitchen. But for anything the Doctor has personally made, there's no guarantee that there aren't some strange flavor surprises awaiting when taking that first bite.

When there's a moment of downtime, the Doctor wanders out of the kitchen to make conversation. In the upper left corner of his waistcoat, on a small bit of paper he's managed to find, he's scribbled his name The Doctor - along with a smiley face beneath it. Tree sap is helpful for keeping it applied!

Seeing a member of their group approaching a table in the dining hall to sit down and, presumably, begin to eat, the Doctor takes it upon himself to interrupt. ]

Hello! Good to see you - [ He points to his name badge, in case you don't already know him. But even if you do, it's worth a look. He's proud of it! ] Hungry, are you? You can't go wrong with anything here, really, but I can do a custom order just for you.

[ It's quieted down enough, so why not? ]

Tell me what you fancy - small snack, big meal, something savory, something sweet? Both?

[makemeasong]

[ It's days since their outdoor adventure, and Clara wanders in with a bouquet of roses in her arms, the petals all tipped with gold. It's beautiful, but she doesn't understand it, and she wants to get the Doctor's opinion. She waits until he's finished up with someone who seems to be pleased (relieved?) the first bite is palatable.

Once he's free she pops into his line of vision. ]

Can you chat for a mo'? Something weird showed up. [ She nods toward the roses, cradled in her arm like she's a pageant winner. ]

[thedreamer]

[ He's busy cleaning and prepping for his next round of meals, but he'll always take time for Clara. Of course, he's not expecting the large bouquet of...flowers? And no ordinary bouquet, either. ]

Showed up when, exactly? Just now?

[westviews]

[Wanda, trailing in to see what might be going on in the kitchen, blinks in surprise at such enthusiasm. It's simultaneously jarring and refreshing.]

A doctor that cooks? Talented.

[thedreamer]

[ As if nothing is at all unusual or unique about this, the Doctor barely misses a beat before responding. ]

What sort of Doctor would I be if I didn't? I'm a doctor of practically everything, I should hope it includes cooking. Though I haven't had a need to in a long while, admittedly. You're in good hands, though, not to worry. In the mood for anything in particular?

[ Blessedly, he pauses to allow her to speak. ]

[unas]

You're working here?

( una says as if she hasn't found her own ways to be useful around the place but she couldn't honestly say that this was what she'd expected from him. he cooked? that was a new thing to find out about him nevermind that he was cooking for everyone here or so it seemed )

I didn't know you could cook.

( no she's not yet answering the question )

( closed ) lan wangji - pass the salt

[thedreamer]

[ The Doctor doesn't grasp the concept of downtime as a general rule, but though their time spent at the Inn thus far has been positively sedate in comparison to recent adventures, he's finding it not altogether unpleasant. It's a chance to catch his breath a little, to think and sort through so many things on his mind lately, so much more than he'd ever let on. Still, even with the relative calm, there remain adventures lurking about and he's been just as eager to find those. The nightly salting of the corridors, in particular, has him intrigued rather than concerned.

He doesn't sleep much, doesn't need to, though he's tried to improve on his lack of it recently by actually finding an hour or two to drift off in his room. While he certainly isn't eager to potentially experience an evening filled with nightmares, he's also too curious for his own good and he assumes that if he's troubled by the Salt Breaker, he'll simply be able to outsmart it as instructed. There's a hint of uncertainty and danger, but the kind that he's more than used to and doesn't fear. Everything will be perfectly fine, after all.

Not entirely comfortable stretching out flat on his mattress on this particular night, the Doctor falls asleep with his head propped up against a pillow in the corner of his room. When he wakes abruptly and a chill sets in, he feels initially intrigued and doesn't move as swiftly as he should. He's not afraid and not necessarily excited, but there's a certain inexplicable thrill in this and he wouldn't deny it. Still, he'll most certainly do everything he can to avoid having his mind tampered with again. There's been far too much of that lately. Just barely a whisper, under his breath, he speaks to himself. ]

Well, better me than anyone else tonight. Let's have at it, shall we?

( closed ) five hargreeves - omelette fines herbes pour deux

[thedreamer]

[ The Doctor's last protracted encounter with his fellow time traveler, Number Five, had been that delightful little Tower with its assortment of charmingly harrowing...adventures. Charming and adventure might perhaps be generous descriptors for what was most certainly anything but a delightful day on the whole. But, a particular and slightly unhinged Time Lord has rather perfected the art of compartmentalization and denial through the long years in order to manage some tenuous grip on his sanity. His grip on it is questionable at times, perhaps.

In the weeks since the Tower, he's been quite busy, of course, and happy to forget certain events ever happened. But they did, and they can't be entirely ignored. Nor can Five. The Inn is a small place, after all, and they're bound to run into one another eventually. While he has no interest in speaking directly about what happened, the Doctor feels he owes his younger counterpart (in a manner of speaking) a token of gratitude. Or a series of them. Why ever speak again in person when one can communicate well enough through written notes and various offerings of food?

The few instances he's glimpsed Five recently from the fringes and shadowed corners of the Inn, the Doctor has - remarkably - taken notice that the younger man doesn't appear to be entirely well. Certainly, he could, at the very least, do with a few hearty meals and tasty delights. Who better to provide?

So as the Doctor busies himself in the kitchen, cooking for their group at large, he takes it upon himself to set aside special meals just for Five. The first day, it's simple enough: a peanut butter sandwich with a few berries smashed down into the peanut butter, along with an extra layer of crispy potatoes that will no doubt be soggy by the time the sandwich is enjoyed. But! It's the thought that counts? The sandwich is wrapped and dropped off at Five's door with a note - Everything in this world is either a potato or not a potato. - All the best, D

The next day - Another sandwich is made, this time some sort of thinly sliced meat and cheese, a pickled something-or-other, more potatoes (though not fried, just salted, boiled, and mashed into the bread), and a condiment he wouldn't be able to name, but would taste like the combination of mayonnaise and cranberry sauce. Another note is left with the sandwich - Always take a banana to a party. - Warmest regards and stuff, O

The third day - He decides to make something on the sweeter side. He's attempting a creation halfway between a muffin and a scone and it only sort of loosely holds its shape as a brown-ish blob. Flour, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, all go into the concoction. He decides to add some salt as well, then more sugar. When he tastes a bite himself, he gags a little at first, adds more sugar to the rest of the mix, and decides that should be good enough. All things are improved with more sugar, after all. So this strange pastry-like blob gets wrapped up carefully but also terribly, and another note is left - There are no apples in this because apples are rubbish. Never forget that. Sincerely - oh fun word! - C

Because the blob isn't holding its shape very well and starts to escape the wrapping - possibly it's not baked through entirely - the Doctor kneels down to try and herd it back in. This means, of course, that if the door is opened or Five might be coming around the corner, it would be impossible for the Doctor to avoid him this time. ]

[somebadnews]

[ It might be obvious to anyone watching that Five hasn't been himself since his sister took a trip through the beacon. After countless hours of obsessing over math and adjusting his plans to ultimately get his family home, he found out exactly what'll be waiting for him if he succeeds. The apocalypse is not only inevitable, but he and his family seem destined to be the ones who bring it on. Now that he knows it was all for nothing, he feels more lost than he's ever been.

So while he can't be the only one blamed for their alcohol supply disappearing, it's fair to say he's been responsible for putting a sizable dent in their supply. Over a year of trying to build back his tolerance in his smaller frame has helped how much he's able to consume at once, and he sees no reason not to continue testing that limit. It isn't the best coping method, but it helps him to ignore most of what happens in the inn.

Food is all but forgotten when it suddenly starts to miraculously appear by his door. Ordinarily he might be more suspicious before he picked up something from the ground with a strange note attached. And he is, but all it takes is the smell of something sweet to notice that he's hungry enough to give in. The tastes don't all go together, but he barely cares what it's made out of, or how easily it would have been to slip him some poison. He saves the notes to decipher later, but by the second one he has an idea of who is leaving them.

He just has no idea why.

The third day he's used to this routine, and it's more than luck that has him opening the door to find the Doctor arranging another item around the time they usually show up. He gives him a long hard stare as he tries to sort out his reaction. ]

You. [ Somehow actually seeing him puts him more on guard. He's seen him cooking, but he hasn't noticed other plates being left, so it's clear that he's targeting him specifically. At the same time... he can't say it hasn't been working. He means to say something sarcastic or biting, just to show how he's not getting away with something, but his mind is blank. Nothing he can come up with quite makes sense, so when he finally asks, his confusion wins out. ]

What are you doing?

( closed ) river song & clara - store bought is just fine

[thedreamer]

[ It's mid-morning and the breakfast crowd has mostly dispersed. The Doctor, of course, enjoyed himself because he loves to stay busy. He's just cleaning up the last of the dishes when Clara pops by to ask if they need any other herbs or various ingredients to prepare for the midday meal.

He has no idea what he's making yet, it's too far in advance. Don't ask him to decide already! He does his best work on the fly, after all. But, he has to give Clara at least some guidance, so he offers a bit of structure rather than sending her off with a vague, Get something leafy or round. ]

Anything that resembles an herb of some kind. If you're not sure what it is, don't taste it or anything of the sort, just bring it back here.

[ Once she's off and ready, he gets to work preparing a light snack for himself, and anyone else who might happen to stop by the kitchen. ]

[spoilers]

[ Despite sleeping almost as little as the Doctor, River is prone to missing (or skipping) breakfast. In fact, she skips most meals, often wandering in at odd hours in search of snacks instead.

Today, she's just in time to catch the last of his instructions. ]

Why? So you can taste it yourself?

[ She barely glances his direction, but her tone is faintly teasing. ]

( closed ) vanessa ives - a moon that's made of actual honey

[thedreamer]

[ A few days after the most recent blizzard, when the snow isn't thick and impenetrable, the Doctor decides that they're due for a bit of a day out. They being, of course, the Doctor and Vanessa. Naturally. So, here they are together, after the rush of this morning's meal, enjoying a bit of crisp air and a chance, he hopes, to see her smile again.

He's kneeling down in the snow, gloveless, letting a fistful of it fall through his fingers as he examines it, deep in thought over what they should build. As though this is the most important thing to be in deep contemplation over right now. ]

What do we think, eh? Not a snow-person, that's boring. Typical. We're not typical, we need something...different. A dragon, a dinosaur, a penguin, a bear, a lion. Too ambitious?

[matermali]

[ Although she enjoys feeding off of his enthusiasm—if her prone lurking isn't an obvious clue—Vanessa is flustered at the thought of actually helping him build anything. He's more the architect, isn't he? For now, her hands are staying in her pockets, but she can at least let her thoughts wander across possibilities and linger near to watch over his shoulder. ]

A creature of the sea? Something grand.