bakerstreet | The Darkest Timeline Meme

[Melody (Pond) Williams is in trouble. Again.

She's always been a bit of a rebel, how could she not, given her mother's saucy attitude? But this is serious. Her grades have been slipping steadily over the past year, and now she's slipped out of the bedroom window for the umpteenth time in the past three months to meet her not-quite-boyfriend for a snog in the bushes.

Enjoy that visual, Rory.]

[It's not that Rory doesn't like the boy (he really, really does not like the boy), but that piled with everything else? It's bothersome. Worrisome.

More than a little terrifying, given well. Their lives.

So he does what he always does when Amy is out, and he's at home with Melody. He opens the front door and steps outside to wait. Father-like.]

[She hears the front door open and rolls her eyes, reluctantly putting her hands on the boy's chest to give him a shove. She spoke loudly, jerking a thumb over in Rory's direction.] Sorry, sweetie. Time's up. The Warden's listening and it's completely putting me off.

[Still, just to make her father wait a little longer, she comes halfway out from the bushes, only to steal one more, very lengthy snog from her guy friend.] Thanks for the you-know-what. Let's do it again soon.

[She lets him go off down the street, his motorbike roaring through the whole neighborhood as he takes off. Melody puts her hands in the pockets of his leather jacket she's taken to wear, flippantly tossing her hair as she approaches her father at the front door.] Evening, Dad. Hell of a night to be a buzzkill, innit?

[He wonders if his mother had this much issue with him and Amy. And then he shakes the thought away, because good god.]

A bit late for sarcasm and hideous rebellion, isn't it?

Never. Girl's gotta get her kicks somehow, and it's certainly not happening up there. [She scoffs a little, her head rolling slightly to indicate her bedroom upstairs.]

[Rory shakes his head.]

I don't understand what's going on with you. Your grades. All of this.

What's to understand?! School sucks, Jeremy doesn't. He's fun, unlike you and mum.

Yes, your mother and I are so very boring. I know, it must be so trying. Do you think that I enjoy lecturing you? Worrying about you at all hours of the night?

Why do you think you need to worry about me? I can take care of myself! It's you guys I'm not so sure about.

You're my daughter, why wouldn't I worry about you? Your mother and I are perfectly capable of taking care of each other.

Oh, please. Have you looked in a mirror lately? You're drones to suburbia and it's sucking the life out of you guys! It's sucking the life out of me!

You guys used to be somebody, you know? All those stories you told me growing up, about the Doctor and the stuff you guys did with him - THAT's a life! Not this! This is just....sitting around and waiting to die.

And it's NOT for me.

Then, when you graduate you can have your big adventure. Until then, all you're doing is throwing your life away for that boy. God knows what else you've been doing. And what for? All you'll end up doing is digging yourself deeper into a hole you can't climb out of.

[Melody sneers at him, about to retort when her phone beeps. She pulls it out with her left hand, shooting back a quick response.]

Well you're right about one thing, Dad. I have been digging a hole.

To escape. [Her right hand leaves her jacket, grasping a small-caliber gun.] I was planning on waiting 'til you were both here for the announcement, but it seems that plans are accelerated now. I'm moving out, Dad. ASAP.

[Rory frowns, both at the gun and the announcement. He's so bothered by the idea of this, of what on earth is happening, that he doesn't even notice that there's a tally-mark on his hand. Not at first.]

What are you talking about? What are you doing?

My big adventure, of course. I'm just not waiting 'til graduation. [She has just a little bit of a manic grin on as she continues.] I've been working on it for months now, Dad. I don't even know where the idea came from or how I got it done so quickly, but it just...it's right, you know? It feels like I've been waiting my whole life for this.

I'm gonna travel in time. I'm gonna find the Doctor, and do what somebody should've done a long time ago.

I'm gonna make him pay.

Pay. Pay for what? You've met the Doctor, he hasn't done anything to you. Where is this coming from?

[And another tally mark. He sees that one, and it scares him. Or maybe he's just afraid in general.]

Melody. Give me the gun.

No, that's it, don't you see? He acts one way but he's this completely different man! There's so much he's done to hurt people, and so much that he could've stopped and he didn't! THAT'S what he needs to pay for!

Not to mention dumping you and Mum here with me. That was just rude.

No! I thought you'd be proud of me for this! You're always telling me to put my mind to use, right? Take initiative. That's what I'm doing!

He's one person, one person and it is not his job to fix everything.

[Rory knows this feeling, knows that it's panic, and he can feel that it's not just because of her. Because of this. Something is wrong in this house, and he can't remember what it is.]

Melody, I love you. So much. But you need to give me the gun, there is something in the house.

[He shuts his mouth, not even entirely sure why he said that.]

Then what is is job? He gets to save people as he pleases? If the wind's blowing right and the right stars are in alignment, he jumps in to save the day? That's crap. [She waves the gun as she gestures with her hand, thankfully it doesn't go off accidentally.]

There is? [Her attention perks up.] Is it my friends? They said they were coming for me....

They are not your friends. Melody, give me the gun.

Yes they are! They've always been there for me. Even if I can't see them, I know they're there. They've been helping me with this, Dad!

How long? How long have they been here?

[She shrugs.] As long as I can remember? At least since I was six....

[That is...more than a little unsettling, in Rory's opinion. He wonders if the Doctor knew this, if that's why he stopped visiting as often. If Amy knew...]

Oh God.

[More tally marks on his hand. He looks at it, and around the room. They're here, and he knows it. He doesn't remember, doesn't even remember what they look like, but they're here.

So he tries to get the gun away from here.</small.]

Dad, stop it! [Melody screams as she tries to twist it away from him. She doesn't want to shoot her father, even if he is turning into a completely domestic pain-in-the-arse. Her finger slips, and the gun goes off.

Melody gasps, letting go of the gun as she staggers back. Her other hand clutches beneath her jacket. When she shakily pulls it out, her palm is stained with blood. Wide, fearful eyes flicker to Rory.]

Daddy?

[Her voice is small, her legs are shaking.

Melody falls.]

Yes, let's!

Re: Yes, let's!

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