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Title: Night-time intermission
Author: flowsoffire
Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing/characters: Eleventh Doctor, River Song
Genre: Romance/Angst
Rating: T
Word count: c. 350
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Summary: In the quiet core of night, he talks and she listens.
Author's note: Here is a drabble I wrote for the "Tell" challenge on the community [livejournal.com profile] who_contest. Wordcount requirement was 400 words or less, and I went for some OTP goodness ;) Enjoy! Title comes from the song by Charlotte Gainsbourg.




"Tell me," she asks, a soft whisper at the core of night. She does not specify what.

He doesn’t always know what he’s going to say, when he parts his lips in the darkness, spilling out a tiny sigh. His thoughts, but those often prove imprecise—quietly churned feelings, fragments of sensation hovering detached, bare and clean as concepts. Sometimes he still attempts to express them. Sometimes he focuses on things that are clearer and real, that he can hold between his fingers, shape upon his tongue. He tells her of the war, of the latest funny planet he visited; of bowties and hats she’d shoot off and fish fingers and custard, of the fear to be alone and the fear to steal people away. Of the him that was not him; of the dreams; of the shadow.

She may comment, or be quiet, fingers tracing random patterns all over him. At his nonsense she laughs a night-laugh, just a shade lower and huskier than usual. He relaxes against her, if gradually, lets her be a pillow for his dark hours—warmth and softness of skin, scent and taste grown intimately familiar all mixing to soothe or distract, according to the need. His own voice sounds different when muffled against her flesh, a whisper into the night, echoing no further than the cradle of the bed—secrets sealed by the rustle of sheets and skin on skin, held closer to the hearts than a name might ever be.

"Why do I tell you all that?" he asks once or twice, or—okay, every other night until she huffs in fond exasperation. "Why should I need to? I’ve always lived with this."

"Because you can," she suggests, shifting against him. He ponders that, cheek pressed to her stomach. Simple truth—she has enough secrets to hold his, enough memories and blurred, stolen moments and words unspoken, to understand. He sleeps little and thinks somber thoughts in the dark; she clutches her diary with white fingers. He wonders if she writes of those whispers of his, too.

He thinks not. What is of the night remains in the night, dreams and the rest; all too soon they’re off running again.

Next stop—

Date: 2014-03-06 02:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com
Ohhh, honey...this is just perfect, perfect, perfect.

I wonder if he ever feels guilt for burdening her with more secrets. Or if she finds relief in his secrets, like they ease her own...

Perfect. Thank you for this.

*HUGS*

Mandy

Date: 2014-03-06 03:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Eeee, thank you ♥ *hugs tight*

I think both are true… ♥♥♥

Love you! *twirls you happily*

Date: 2014-03-06 03:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com
Hmmm, I can see that...

I love you, too, dearest!!

*TACKLES*

Date: 2014-03-06 03:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
^_^

♥♥♥

Date: 2014-03-06 08:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daxcat79.livejournal.com
OMG... this! This is exactly what I picture in my head! This is exactly the private moments I see when they aren't running! *claps* Bravo!

Date: 2014-03-06 08:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
:D Shared headcanon ftw! I'm so happy you liked it, dear. Thank you! ♥ (Lol… We're reading each other at the same time. You're getting a comment too, eventually, but your fic isn't exactly 400 words long :D)

Date: 2014-03-06 09:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
Aw, this is a lovely slice of fluffy angst! I hope they get lots of intermissions...

Date: 2014-03-06 09:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Yay fluffy angst! Oxymorons ftw :D Thank you, dear! ♥♥♥

Date: 2014-03-06 09:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daxcat79.livejournal.com
Haha, that's funny! We are of similar minds!

My stories are never that short. I don't think it's possible to write a story that isn't overly complicated. *headdesk*

Date: 2014-03-06 09:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
*high fives*

Super long stories are great! ♥♥♥ I wish I was a bit better at long stuff, haha… I did get better at it, but it's hard ;) I'm not good at plots.

Date: 2014-03-06 09:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daxcat79.livejournal.com
I have plot on top of plot inside my head. There are stories rolling around in my brain constantly. Usually when I'm easing into characters I start small, but by the end it's go big or go home apparently. *eye roll*

I wish I could just chill out and write a brief scene. I've got several, but they tend to collect together into clumps (hence all the chapter stories).

Date: 2014-03-06 10:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
Yesss! :D Is this your first time doing [livejournal.com profile] who_contest?

Date: 2014-03-07 02:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darknessfactor.livejournal.com
Oh, gorgeous! So evocative, and it shows the quieter aspect of their relationship perfectly. It also gives a hint about why he's so broken when he eventually loses her, later. I loved it!

Date: 2014-03-07 07:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
That's a lovely ability, though! Eh, we're never happy with what we're good at ;D

Date: 2014-03-07 07:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Yep, it is :D Have you ever done it?

Date: 2014-03-07 07:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
*cheers happily and hugs you* Glad you did, honey! Thank you! ♥♥♥

Date: 2014-03-07 02:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daxcat79.livejournal.com
Naw, too much like right to be satisfied with things! Lol

Date: 2014-03-07 02:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
*high fives* XD

Date: 2014-03-07 08:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] theotherbadwolf.livejournal.com
Oh, this was really rather lovely – such a nice picture you painted of the two of them here, that and a sliver of a very complex relationship. This really adds to that complexity – that and the layers it adds to their relationship, her and understanding and the Doctor being able to talk at her about things maybe because he needs to, and him not really understanding why he does it at all.

Anyhow, this was very lovely, and a good fill for the prompt. Glad you posted it!

Date: 2014-03-07 08:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Thanks a lot for reviewing! ^_^ It's really appreciated, I'm so glad you enjoyed the story and the complexity of the dynamic :)

Date: 2014-03-07 11:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
:D

(And nope. The prompts are tempting, but I'm not great at dealing with contests/awards/that sort of thing, heh.)

Date: 2014-03-08 05:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] justascrewup2.livejournal.com
Interesting. I like it :)

Date: 2014-03-08 07:25 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Okay ^_^ I haven't done that in forever, but the Bellatrix challenge I'm mod on has a challenge every two weeks and the prompts are limited to a multiple of 100 words, usually—so it's fun to be doing a roughly similar thing for Who, now! Though we didn't have contests, I guess. But the friendly competition is fun =)

Date: 2014-03-08 07:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Thank you! Glad to hear that ^_^

Date: 2014-03-08 03:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
Friendly competition is super, and who_contest seems like a really friendly place! And challenges/prompts are always good. (Which is why I can't resist ficathons and things, lol.)

Date: 2014-03-08 03:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
*cheers* And all the entries are really lovely!

How have you been besides, dear? ^_^

Date: 2014-03-08 03:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
Must read them...

I'm okay -- enjoying the Spring, it's sunny, yay! :D How about you?

Date: 2014-03-08 03:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Sunny feels so good! I was having a walk earlier and it was like mmmm bliss ♥ I'm pretty good, thanks—chilling a bit atm, starting a new translation soonish… Getting ready to post the last of the super old fics I'd never gotten 'round to typing :D

Date: 2014-03-08 03:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
♥ And wooo fic! *looks forward to*

Date: 2014-03-08 03:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Thanks! It's the Mels/Clara, I probably mentioned that at some point, months ago. XD

♥♥♥

Date: 2014-03-08 03:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
Oh, yes, I remember that! How exciting! :D

Date: 2014-03-08 04:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
*hugs* ♥

Date: 2014-03-08 04:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] honeynoir.livejournal.com
:D *hugs* ♥

Date: 2014-03-10 10:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pony-express.livejournal.com
This is my NOTP! But I did enjoy it. . .
A lovely response to the prompt!

Date: 2014-03-10 11:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Thank you all the more for commenting, then! Glad you could still enjoy the piece! ^_^

Date: 2014-03-10 10:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] doctorxdonna.livejournal.com
What a vibrant picture you paint with so few words! Nicely done.

Date: 2014-03-11 07:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] flowsoffire.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm really glad you liked the story :)

Date: 2014-03-18 11:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pony-express.livejournal.com
You're welcomee! (: The writing is deeper than the pairing!

Date: 2014-03-19 07:05 am (UTC)

Date: 2014-03-21 09:57 pm (UTC)

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