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flowsoffireTitle: Home is where the journey begins
Author: flowsoffire
Fandom: Doctor Who (classic series)
Pairing/characters: Ian/Barbara, mentions of the First Doctor and Vicki
Genre: Romance
Rating: K
Word count: c. 650
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: Home becomes an adventure of its own, their destination most unhoped for. Home is the place where they pause and look into each other’s eyes, knowing what they have lived, and what still lies ahead. Home is the most thrilling thing of all. A little Ian/Barbara character exploration, set post their departure in The Chase.
Author's note: Here is my first piece for Ian and Barbara, hope I did those lovelies justice! Also sneaked in a veiled reference to my favourite new!Who character because I couldn’t resist. History girls ftw. Thanks in advance for reading, and enjoy!
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Months later, they still jump one foot into the air whenever they hear some funny sound from the street.
The world has a different face. People look different; every small, mundane thing as well, as they embrace it in the relish of coming home. It is in their eye, Ian knows: an eye that has swept across the universe, that has seen other planets, the future and the past. They speak with a quiver in their voice, some nervous, frenetic enthusiasm. In everyday life, they soon learn to control that—but when they teach, oh, the passion returns.
Poor Barbara especially, recounting the history of manuals when she has breathed it. The first time she has to tell her class about the Aztecs, she suffers a sudden bout of frantic laughter halfway through; she is so incensed at herself when she comes home that it takes two cups of tea and a foot rub to get her to wind down. Their evening finishes well and it all gets easier as time goes on, as he promised; still Aztecs remain her pet peeve, and their very own personal joke. Many years after, she almost loses it again during her first lecture about this specific civilization, as some strange woman keeps asking her the oddest questions about the issue of gender in the tales of reincarnation. Once more, she returns to him shaken, having browsed the register frantically—but it can bring her very little. Mysterious Melody Williams never appears again.
He refrains from chuckling, or betraying the fact that he does enjoy seeing her so flustered, if only for the whole process of getting her to relax.
That is another once constant, normal thing in their lives that is certainly no longer the same, and the best of all, as far as he’s concerned. Of course, in the quietness of Coal Hill, after many a cup of tea, a pleasant discussion, or a stolen glance, one teacher might have loved their colleague and seen the affection returned. But Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright have seen it all. They walked the streets of Rome and Paris, the way no one alive ever could anymore, although there was nothing romantic whatsoever to what they went through there. They have known fear and relief, stood under the light of other suns and, eventually, found their way home. And yet, the journey never ended.
He can so clearly recall that day—the street, the city, the bus, their frenzied giggles, drawing people’s stares. He remembers the warmth of her hand in his, and that precise moment, once they’d properly settled, when he just looked into her face. Soft eyes, gentle lips, teasing smile—the friend of many adventures, and so much more.
A new eye; a new touch, like a flutter of things foreign and delicious, to be discovered. Their first night back in England involved lots of talking, and not only that. They had to come to terms with everything that had changed, and what their lives would then bring.
They did.
They can never look at a police box the same way again, and never will. The same goes for old men: there is great fondness, of course, but they are also aware that apparent harmlessness can then reveal something one would never have imagined. They often talk about the Doctor, just mentioning him in passing, or else wondering where he might be now, whether Vicki still travels at his side. They think of him with tenderness and gratitude, recalling antics that make them chuckle.
Thanks to him, they have known past and future, and most of all, the worth of the present—of their loved ones, of home. All of that they hold close to their hearts.
Life, by now, is an adventure of its own, of their own. They sometimes share a glance at some random recollection, and just like that, they want to laugh.
They never get bored again.
Author: flowsoffire
Fandom: Doctor Who (classic series)
Pairing/characters: Ian/Barbara, mentions of the First Doctor and Vicki
Genre: Romance
Rating: K
Word count: c. 650
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: Home becomes an adventure of its own, their destination most unhoped for. Home is the place where they pause and look into each other’s eyes, knowing what they have lived, and what still lies ahead. Home is the most thrilling thing of all. A little Ian/Barbara character exploration, set post their departure in The Chase.
Author's note: Here is my first piece for Ian and Barbara, hope I did those lovelies justice! Also sneaked in a veiled reference to my favourite new!Who character because I couldn’t resist. History girls ftw. Thanks in advance for reading, and enjoy!
*************************************************************************************************************
Months later, they still jump one foot into the air whenever they hear some funny sound from the street.
The world has a different face. People look different; every small, mundane thing as well, as they embrace it in the relish of coming home. It is in their eye, Ian knows: an eye that has swept across the universe, that has seen other planets, the future and the past. They speak with a quiver in their voice, some nervous, frenetic enthusiasm. In everyday life, they soon learn to control that—but when they teach, oh, the passion returns.
Poor Barbara especially, recounting the history of manuals when she has breathed it. The first time she has to tell her class about the Aztecs, she suffers a sudden bout of frantic laughter halfway through; she is so incensed at herself when she comes home that it takes two cups of tea and a foot rub to get her to wind down. Their evening finishes well and it all gets easier as time goes on, as he promised; still Aztecs remain her pet peeve, and their very own personal joke. Many years after, she almost loses it again during her first lecture about this specific civilization, as some strange woman keeps asking her the oddest questions about the issue of gender in the tales of reincarnation. Once more, she returns to him shaken, having browsed the register frantically—but it can bring her very little. Mysterious Melody Williams never appears again.
He refrains from chuckling, or betraying the fact that he does enjoy seeing her so flustered, if only for the whole process of getting her to relax.
That is another once constant, normal thing in their lives that is certainly no longer the same, and the best of all, as far as he’s concerned. Of course, in the quietness of Coal Hill, after many a cup of tea, a pleasant discussion, or a stolen glance, one teacher might have loved their colleague and seen the affection returned. But Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright have seen it all. They walked the streets of Rome and Paris, the way no one alive ever could anymore, although there was nothing romantic whatsoever to what they went through there. They have known fear and relief, stood under the light of other suns and, eventually, found their way home. And yet, the journey never ended.
He can so clearly recall that day—the street, the city, the bus, their frenzied giggles, drawing people’s stares. He remembers the warmth of her hand in his, and that precise moment, once they’d properly settled, when he just looked into her face. Soft eyes, gentle lips, teasing smile—the friend of many adventures, and so much more.
A new eye; a new touch, like a flutter of things foreign and delicious, to be discovered. Their first night back in England involved lots of talking, and not only that. They had to come to terms with everything that had changed, and what their lives would then bring.
They did.
They can never look at a police box the same way again, and never will. The same goes for old men: there is great fondness, of course, but they are also aware that apparent harmlessness can then reveal something one would never have imagined. They often talk about the Doctor, just mentioning him in passing, or else wondering where he might be now, whether Vicki still travels at his side. They think of him with tenderness and gratitude, recalling antics that make them chuckle.
Thanks to him, they have known past and future, and most of all, the worth of the present—of their loved ones, of home. All of that they hold close to their hearts.
Life, by now, is an adventure of its own, of their own. They sometimes share a glance at some random recollection, and just like that, they want to laugh.
They never get bored again.
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Date: 2014-01-11 08:43 pm (UTC)*Is awed and thrilled all at once!*
*HUGS*
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Date: 2014-01-11 08:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-11 10:41 pm (UTC)Just... wow, that was gorgeous.
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Date: 2014-01-12 09:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-15 08:44 pm (UTC)(Also the span between you posting this on Teaspoon and it getting recced on calufrax has to be one of the shortest ever. :D You're filling a classic!fic shaped hole in the fandom, clearly!)
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Date: 2014-01-15 08:53 pm (UTC)It got recced??? :O :D Oh, goodness!!! Hahaha, yes, that was fast! And wow. I'm just… glowing and squeeing ;)
*second look* Oh, that was my Ian/Barbara fic though! But never mind, it's still super exciting :D
And we all need more classic!fic! Yayyy. (Two more to come before I'm caught up—on the unpublished drabbles that is, there are oooooold one-shots after that.)
Thank you for commenting!!! Loveeee :D ♥♥♥
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Date: 2014-01-15 09:00 pm (UTC)Wait, am I not commenting on that Ian/Barbara fic? Sorry!
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Date: 2014-01-15 09:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-15 09:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-15 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-15 09:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-15 09:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-15 09:48 pm (UTC)Oh, and I saw your Two fic now! *goes to read*
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Date: 2014-01-15 09:52 pm (UTC)Eeeee =)
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Date: 2014-01-15 09:55 pm (UTC)Twoooooo! (I love Two, in case you haven't noticed.)
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Date: 2014-01-15 10:01 pm (UTC)Twooo! ♥ I'll see more of him when I'm in a watch-stuff mood again and not "DO ALL THE THINGS NOW YES NOW".
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Date: 2014-01-15 10:59 pm (UTC)Hee! He'll be playing the recorder cheerfully in the meantime!
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Date: 2014-01-16 11:17 am (UTC)*grins*
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Date: 2014-01-11 11:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-11 11:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-01-12 01:51 pm (UTC)I am a puddle! My babies! This is so fantastically fond and accurate. Because life after the Doctor is changed but not in a bitter 'Where is my Doctor?' sense, in a 'our eyes are now wide open way', because adventure is everyday life also.
I love it so much; their initial reaction to certain sounds, certain topics; how they needed to grow back into this old life of theirs, but not so old, not so boring; how teaching was just another way of travelling in time (I love you for that); Barbara's frantic laughter as she talked about the Aztecs... the oddest questions about the issue of gender in the tales of reincarnation. Did you just threw shades at Moffat? I love you. Fierce Barbara, I bet her answer was immensely interesting. Also River; I'm a bit sensitive about River these days, slowly realising she is properly dead and not coming back. Eleven will get audios, but River...
The shippiness! Oh, my giddy aunt. Exactly Ian and Barbara, I think. Not all over each other like teenagers, but enjoying her flustered state, reveling in her being comfortable... Argh. The best kind of shippiness. Because it's not really a love story, it's an initiatory trip; they went through the same experience, but it did not change them, they just saw the world differently -and each other. You wrote it just like needed to be written; their love not in the spotlight, but there nevertheless, essential.
The description of their going back home after leaving the TARDIS must be my favourite part; they were like children, new born. Just amazing. Because, yes, entirely new life.
I LOVED how you tackle the fact that the old men could never be again just old, harmless people. This Trickster... And they thought about him with gratitude, not longing or bitterness, just the way it should be. The worth of the present So important, so true. This is why tackling the longing of humans in Who seems so strange sometimes; the Doctor would not quite perfectly get it, but they can.
I just love you for writing it. This is everything I want for them -and it is quite close to what I had imagined for the Ponds, except better.
You are just so good at those slice of life. And the writing... Oh, you know what I think about the writing.
Thank you for sharing! *squishes you*
Favourite lines:
That is another once constant, normal thing in their lives that is certainly no longer the same, and the best of all, as far as he’s concerned. Oh, the litotes! Splendid.
A new eye; a new touch, like a flutter of things foreign and delicious, to be discovered. You mimicked the flutters of wings with that cutting of the words, but you know that...
They never get bored again. In an ideal world, that's what the Doctor is all about. Not breaking people.
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Date: 2014-01-19 09:30 pm (UTC)Hahaha love the incoherence/puddle-ness!!! :D And I know right! Classic!Who is fantastic in that regard, companions just stumble in and leave when they’re ready, goodbyes can be full of affection, or new beginnings, the whole experience is powerful but it doesn’t leave such a wound. They needed to go home. (To be fair, the fact that in the early days, the TARDIS can’t take you twice at the same place makes that much more potent, you can’t be home in time for breakfast.)
Eeeee, I love that you loved all the detail. And River! ♥ Did you know, I was so unclear with the Miss Williams business, people who read and didn’t know me thought it was Amy… Didn’t even realize she could also wear the name…
Hehehe, the shippiness. Ian/Barbara aren’t like the couples I’m usually obsessed about, they’re much more balanced, simply right; it’s perfect companionship. I did really want to have their love be present and yet not the obvious focus, so glad you appreciated that :D
Yes, being around One did have to leave a mark :D Trickster! I love him. Will have to get back to the classics eventually and watch Two, though I’m playing busy bee at the moment. ♥
*hugs you giddily and doesn’t let go* Thank YOU! Your feedback means the world! And I know such reviews take quite some effort so it’s all the more appreciated ;) ♥ (And yay favourite lines!)
Love you! ♥
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Date: 2014-02-04 09:14 pm (UTC)Classic who is just ace. *pats TARDIS* That's okay, it's alright. He just doesn't know how to.
I immediately saw it was River! Considering the subject. I can't help recalling Amy reaction during the peace talks in Hungry Earth/Cold Blood. She would be so bored. Have you ever been to a conference on a subject that is quite specific. It is interesting, but you understand only the odd word or phrase.
But they are such cuties! I love this way of picturing relationship. You don't shove in the face of the audience gooey smiles and holding hands. It's all in faint touches and looks. That's the way couples -well, mature ones- act in life.
Two and Jamie! Married in space before Eleven and River...
Stop thinking they take such effort! I just need to kick myself and do it -usually, I just flail in writing. that doesn't require much concentration.
*hugs you*
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Date: 2014-02-08 07:46 pm (UTC)Yes, he DOES get more apt at flying her with time! ;)
Indeed, the subject was a very strong hint, and also my love for River ;) Good point about Amy’s interest, she likes history, but the very active and catchy kind, Romans. When the Doctor takes her to museums, she begs for a planet.
Yes, they’re delightful! It’s so delicious in the show, their complicity and quietly working together as a team, their natural understanding of each other. Partners all the way. They just belong together, like an obvious fact.
Ha, I need to see Jamie then! :D Still haven’t gotten around to more classics… Oh well, productivity is also good, and the eps aren’t going anywhere ;)
Haha, okay, that’s good then! I just know my own experience of it—actually, I wouldn’t say it takes me an effort, either, it’s more about the self-applied pressure, when updates pile up and I’m like "omfg, all those reviews". The doing it goes smoothly enough, I just get stressy. I get stressy about bloody near everything. ;)
*hugs tight* Love you loads, dear!