From the moment he left Androzani Minor, he’s always known that he’s the most intelligent of him all. It’s been a bit of a burden—providing an example of the perfect Doctor—but he’s always felt himself well compensated for his efforts simply by having the privilege of being, well, him. That certainty has been eroding lately, however, and it’s all the fault of that girl.
In fact, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he’d have to say that he’s being quite stupid about that girl. Downright woolyheaded.
Oh, he justifies himself constantly. Most days, he tells himself that Charley (no, CHARLOTTE) is obviously harmless. No one who lies that badly could possibly be a habitual liar, no matter how seldom she tells the truth. On other days, the ones in which he catches her in five falsehoods before elevenses, he assures himself that he’s saving the universe by keeping an eye on her. Who knows what mischief she and her imagination could get into if he were to set her adrift.
But the Doctor is a master of the half-truth, and he’s said too many of them over the centuries to be fooled by them himself. No, Char-- Miss Pollard, is not harmless. She knows more than she should, and knowledge is never harmless. And no, she’s not about to destroy the universe. She may not be truthful, but she’s not evil either. He knows evil, and she... isn’t.
But she is pretty. And charming. And fun and engaging and enthusiastic and sarcastic and delightfully old-fashioned, even when discussing technology that wasn’t invented until centuries after her birth. She’s good company, and he’s missed that.
But he can’t trust her, so therefore, he’ll never tell her how much he enjoys having her on the TARDIS. And that makes him the biggest idiot of them all.
Six/Charley
In fact, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he’d have to say that he’s being quite stupid about that girl. Downright woolyheaded.
Oh, he justifies himself constantly. Most days, he tells himself that Charley (no, CHARLOTTE) is obviously harmless. No one who lies that badly could possibly be a habitual liar, no matter how seldom she tells the truth. On other days, the ones in which he catches her in five falsehoods before elevenses, he assures himself that he’s saving the universe by keeping an eye on her. Who knows what mischief she and her imagination could get into if he were to set her adrift.
But the Doctor is a master of the half-truth, and he’s said too many of them over the centuries to be fooled by them himself. No, Char-- Miss Pollard, is not harmless. She knows more than she should, and knowledge is never harmless. And no, she’s not about to destroy the universe. She may not be truthful, but she’s not evil either. He knows evil, and she... isn’t.
But she is pretty. And charming. And fun and engaging and enthusiastic and sarcastic and delightfully old-fashioned, even when discussing technology that wasn’t invented until centuries after her birth. She’s good company, and he’s missed that.
But he can’t trust her, so therefore, he’ll never tell her how much he enjoys having her on the TARDIS. And that makes him the biggest idiot of them all.
Charley/Lucie, Eight/Charley/Lucie, Six/Eight