Ficlet: Save Me From The Monsters

[unfeathered]

For morgynleri_fic, who requested 'Ninth Doctor meets Lorne, preferably before he meets Rose. He sings for Lorne, in fact, and Lorne has to mention Jack, but not by the name the Doctor meets him under or as a Time Agent, or as a conman.'


Title: Save Me From The Monsters
Fandom: Doctor Who/Angel
Author: unfeathered
Characters: Ninth Doctor, Lorne
Rating: G
Word Count: 500 exactly
Spoilers: Set after Not Fade Away but before Season One of Doctor Who
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: The Doctor goes to Lorne to find out if his future is really as bleak as it seems…
Author’s Note 1: For those who don't know the Buffyverse, the title is a reference to a line from Angel: "Handsome man saved me from the monsters" (Fred, Through The Looking Glass)
Author’s Note 2: Huge thanks to becky_h for coming up with a song for the Doctor to sing!

Followed up here.


"All right, all right, I think three minutes are quite enough! Come and sit down, pumpkin, and I'll see what I can do."

Lorne watches as the Doctor (strange name, but that's all he's getting from the man) steps down off the little stage with undisguised relief and shimmies between the little round tables to join Lorne at his. The rest of the clientele in Lorne's new Vegas establishment look relieved too, and the next singer – a slimy purple demon Lorne can't identify – takes his place on the stage.

"I'm curious." Lorne twirls the little umbrella sticking up from his Sea Breeze. "What made you choose Time Stand Still? Not the easiest song to sing."

The Doctor shrugs uncomfortably, eyes on his pint. "I'm not that up on turn of the millennium music. But I knew that one."

Lorne raises his eyebrows. "I think there's more to it than that, Glum 'n' Gloomy. Time is what you're all about, isn't it? And time has been standing still for you recently. Ever since…" The Doctor winces, and Lorne holds up his hands. "Sorry. Just saying! And hey, I ran away from home too, but at least I didn't burn mine!"

The Doctor glares at him, and Lorne shivers slightly and looks down. Takes a deep breath and leans forward with a smile. "But things are about to start moving for you again, sweetcheeks. You're gonna have people around you again. A nice little English girl – actually, several English girls, though not all at once – " He chuckles, but stops when the Doctor gives him a dour look that threatens extreme violence if he doesn't get to the point soon. "Anyway, there's a man too… A handsome man – very handsome – hey, if you ever get tired of him could you give him my address? And he's going to be the one. The one who won't leave you. He'll wait for you, and stand by you, and – oh, he may do other things with you too…"

Lorne breaks off, because the Doctor's getting to his feet. "Thanks," the Doctor says, patting his cheek warmly. "Oh, and no, I'm not giving you Jack's address. I don't share."

Lorne frowns. "How did you - ?"

The Doctor flashes him a surprisingly bright grin. "You're not the only one who can read minds, sunshine. I'm just not very good at reading my own. 'Experience slips away' and all that." He straightens his jacket. "Right. London, spring 2005, is that right?"

Lorne nods helplessly, and the Doctor's grin spreads even wider.

"Good. I'm going to get things moving again, then. Going to go and find me a girl!"

Lorne watches him turn to go. "You know, you remind me of someone I knew. The heroics, the lack of humour, the sparse look, the dark sweater, the dark coat… though his was long and sweeping…"

The Doctor gives him another dark look. "I don't do long and sweeping."

But Lorne's seen the Doctor's future. He grins. "You will."



Note: Unbeta'd so if anyone has any beta-like comments to make, please feel free! :-)

Comments

[chatona.livejournal.com]

"Anyway, there's a man too… A handsome man – very handsome – hey, if you ever get tired of him could you give him my address? And he's going to be the one. The one who won't leave you. He'll wait for you, and stand by you, and – oh, he may do other things with you too…"

"Oh, and no, I'm not giving you Jack's address. I don't share."

*flails* *bounces*

I have no idea who this Lorne-person is, but that exchange there? Made me very happy ♥
Also? Possessive!Doctor ♥ Yay!

I think I'm only getting half of the references this fic makes, but it's brilliant anyway. I likes.

[unfeathered]

Lorne is a demon who has a karaoke club and reads people's auras when they sing for him. More info and picture here.

And as already established, I like possessive Doctor too! *g*

Thank you for liking it even though you only get half of it! :-)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Right. Angel. I never watched Angel. That's probably why I don't know Lorne. He looks... interesting.

Yeah. Possessive Doctor is quite lovely *beams*

Well *grins* There is a lot of Jack in it. So it doesn't really matter that I don't understand the rest, I understand the bits about Jack and I like, so it's all good *bounces*

[unfeathered]

Yeah, there is a lot of Jack in it. Because of the prompt, OK? *g*

Oh, and the person the Doctor was reminding him of was Angel, in case you didn't get that either! "Mr billowy coat king of pain" was an oft-quoted description of him... :-)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Yes. Of course. Because of the prompt. Yep.

Right. I knew I was missing something there, but I didn't get it. Thanks for explaning that one to me. I know what Angel looks like, but that's about it... I can see how the ninth Doctor would remind someone of Angel, though.

[unfeathered]

I can see how the ninth Doctor would remind someone of Angel, though.

It's weird, I really never thought of that till today, but writing this fic it suddenly seemed really obvious! :-)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Sorta. I never would have thought of it, but it does seem obvious.

So, just let me get this straight. Lorne killed Lindsay Mc..what'shisname. Who's played by Christian Kane. Whose music I really like and whom I'm writing an rps story about?
.. I can't believe the world is that small. Seriously. And the fact that I just thought that this proves the interconnctedness of all thing clearly indicates that I've been reading too much Douglas Adams again.

[unfeathered]

Hee, I noticed you were a Chrisian Kane fan. His character even sang (and played guitar for) one of his own songs in Lorne's club in episode 2.18 'Dead End'. :-)

[chatona.livejournal.com]

Chris Kane is quite pretty, if I dare say so. And rather hot, really. And I adore his music. I mean. I used to be all "oh, no, country, ewww" and then I happened to listen to Kane and I was all over it. 's really good. Or at least I think so. What followed was a short phase of complete and utter obsession (not unlike that which I am feeling for Jack right now) which lead to several bunnies. One of which I'm still writing...

I heard that he sang on Angel, yeah :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I am confused... it's set before S1 of DW? So how does the Doctor know Jack?

"Anyway, there's a man too… A handsome man – very handsome – hey, if you ever get tired of him could you give him my address? And he's going to be the one. The one who won't leave you. He'll wait for you, and stand by you, and – oh, he may do other things with you too…"

*sigh* Jack.. and those 'other things' *g* what might they be?

[unfeathered]

Darn, I thought this made it clear enough...?

Lorne frowns. "How did you - ?"

The Doctor flashes him a surprisingly bright grin. "You're not the only one who can read minds, sunshine.

As for those 'other things', I'm sure I don't know... *g*

And how come I write a story about Lorne and the Doctor and both comments so far are all about Jack? He's doing his distracting thing again, isn't he? *g*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

sorry, maybe it's the lack of sleep.. the Doctor's reading Lorne's mind about Jack?

and well, as to the comments being about Jack... he IS very memorable AND distracting!

[unfeathered]

Yep, reading mind. He touched him earlier, too, just to make that easier.

Possibly I made it too subtle... :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

ahhh, sorry... I'm slow today. Lackadonutits must be rearing it's ugly head.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

The Doctor flashes him a surprisingly bright grin. "You're not the only one who can read minds, sunshine. I'm just not very good at reading my own. 'Experience slips away' and all that." He straightens his jacket. "Right. London, spring 2005, is that right?"

OK, that just completely won me over. Heh--and the reference to Ten's coat. Mostly I'm amazed that you got the Doctor to sing karaoke and it's still somehow in character. I wouldn't have thought that was possible. *g*

[becky-h.livejournal.com]

Am really rushed and groggy so going to be lazy and point. What she said - exactly what she said. Wonderful work and awesome fic.

[unfeathered]

Thank you - fantastic praise! Especially since I'm extremely groggy too. :-)

[unfeathered]

I got away with the karaoke, then? Cool! Of course, Angel hated having to sing every time he needed help with his destiny too... I figured they might be similar in more ways than one. :-)

Glad you liked it! :-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_medley_/]

Hee! Yes, you got away with the karaoke. Which is a sentence I never thought I'd type... *vbg*

Of course, Angel hated having to sing every time he needed help with his destiny too...

Bwahaha! I never really watched Buffy or Angel, but just from what I've picked up through fannish osmosis I can totally picture that.

[unfeathered]

*g* It actually got to the point where Lorne wouldn't even make Angel sing, which was a relief to them all...

[morgynleri]

*tries several times to stop cackling madly in delight long enough to type a coherent comment*

Oh, I love it! *hands over chocolate chip cookies*

Lorne watches him turn to go. "You know, you remind me of someone I knew. The heroics, the lack of humour, the sparse look, the dark sweater, the dark coat… though his was long and sweeping…"

*snerks hard* Oh, I hadn't thought about that... comparing Nine and Angel... probably because I'm not a huge fan of Angel, but... *snerks again* it's definately there. Nine just pulls it off better.

"Oh, and no, I'm not giving you Jack's address. I don't share."

Favorite line of the story! Just so... wonderfully possessive. *purrs happily*

Thank you!

[unfeathered]

*grins happily* Oh, I'm so glad you like it! And thank you - chocolate chip cookies - yum! :-)

As I just said in a comment above, the Nine/Angel comparison never occurred to me either till I wrote this - and now it seems totally obvious! I might have to disagree with your statement that Nine pulls it off better, though - I don't think anyone broods like Angel does! He's also prettier... *g*

And possessive Doctor is totally chatona's fault. We got talking about it the other day and it just keeps cropping up!

[morgynleri]

I'll agree, no one broods like Angel does... also, no one makes me want to reach through the TV screen and smack them silly like Angel does. Which is why I say Nine pulls it off better... he broods without me wanting to smack him all the time.

And I like possessive Doctor! *giggles* He's so delightful, and easy to tweak.

[unfeathered]

All right, you win. I want to smack Angel when he's brooding too.

Though I want to smack both of them more when they're grinning and being silly. Can't stand silliness.

Hmmm. I'm starting to want to see Nine meet Angel now... (And no, not going to write it. I've got quite enough on my plate for now!)

[morgynleri]

Mmm. Grinning doesn't trigger the smack, but silly can if it's more than fleeting.

Angel and Nine meeting... Heh. Be dangerous, that. Shall have to put that on the mental list of possible things to write in the future, but not yet. Have drabble meme to keep an eye on, and evil plot bunnies to manage. One of which is the size of a small pony and has a spiked collar, leash, and most recently appears to have aquired a t-shirt reading "Property of The Master". *sighs* My Master-muse has acquired himself a pet.

[unfeathered]

It's grinning with Nine, silliness with Angel, as far as I'm concerned. Both annoy me no end.

One of which is the size of a small pony and has a spiked collar, leash, and most recently appears to have aquired a t-shirt reading "Property of The Master".

Your brain is a strange place! *g*

And I just realised I never got round to friending you back! Duh! That's why I haven't been seeing your posts on my flist. (I'll blame it on the cold. My head isn't working right atm.)

[morgynleri]

*tilts head* Mm. Yes, the urge to smack Nine when he starts grinning does occur now and again. Sometimes even when I'm looking at my icon.

If anyone told you my brain wasn't a strange place, they were either lying or delusional. *beams* There's the lounge, with various appearing and dissapearing pieces of furniture (except the sofa. No one steals my sofa), a full-sized bar with every alcoholic (and otherwise intoxicating) beverage known to my muses, a small kitchen, various bedrooms, a zero-gravity gym to stash those who've gotten drunk, a small sports stadium (the existance of which is still a mystery as to why), a very large library, the Q-box, and a nifty little control room which the muses aren't allowed in, though they keep stealing the spare keyboard. And I'm rambling a bit... anyway.

'S all right. I don't stress over friending, or lack thereof. Doesn't change whether or not stuff shows up on my flist. Well, sometimes, but not if the person doesn't f-lock, which I do... which reminds me. I should get around to doing a proper "friends only" banner for my journal....

[unfeathered]

*blinks hard*

OK, your brain is even stranger than I realised! *g*

[morgynleri]

*grins* I do try. And one of these days I shall get around to doing a sketch for the lounge, and using that as a friends-only banner, but I haven't done that yet.... probably because I have trouble drawing inanimate objects and places... which is why most of my character sketches have abstract or plain backgrounds...

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's brilliant. I really love Lorne's description of Jack, and the Doctor's sudden burst of energy towards the end. And the comparison to Angel. And the 'long and sweeping'. And all of it, really. I don't think I know the song the Doctor sings, but I looked up the lyrics and they make sense. Will have to get my hands on the song.

Anyway, yes, love this a lot!

[unfeathered]

Thank you! Glad you liked it generally, and all the specific things too.

Becky did a vid to the song a while ago, so you can look at that if you want to hear it...

[smithy161.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link!

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Okay so I really should have made the link to the Buffy- verse sooner but when I read the prompt I still had SGA in my head *so embarrassing*

Loved it HUGELY especially that little flash of Nine telepathy it was just right :)

[unfeathered]

Hee hee hee. Now you know how we Buffyites get, always picture SGA Lorne as a green horned demon! *g*

Glad you liked it so much! :-)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

The Doctor gives him another dark look. "I don't do long and sweeping."

But Lorne's seen the Doctor's future. He grins. "You will."

Yeah... Hadn't thought of the parallels with Angel, but they're there.

[unfeathered]

Hee! It's weird, it's not till I start writing a pairing/crossover/whatever that I start noticing the parallels - and then they just seem soooo obvious I wonder why I didn't get them before! :-)

Thanks for commenting!

[shighola.livejournal.com]

lovely!
everything's better with Lorne.
*g*

[unfeathered]

Thank you! Glad you liked it! :-)

I'm not a huge Lorne fan, but it was interesting writing him. I suppose I can stop him annoying me if I'm the one actually writing him! *g*

9 + Lorne - Save me from the Monsters

[ravenpan.livejournal.com]

Oh that was delightful :)

Re: 9 + Lorne - Save me from the Monsters

[unfeathered]

Thank you! :-)

[dustuck.livejournal.com]

You? Are awesome. This was so awesome and hilarious. And this was te best line in the world:
"I don't do long and sweeping."

But Lorne's seen the Doctor's future. He grins. "You will."

Thank you for being amazing.

[unfeathered]

Awww, it's my pleasure to be amazing! *g*

Glad you liked it! :-)

[azure-chaos.livejournal.com]

Love it :)

"Oh, and no, I'm not giving you Jack's address. I don't share."

Dammit, I now have Jack/Lorne bunnies because Jack would totally think that Lorne was fabulous. I should point out how rare this is because I never ship Lorne with anyone (even though I think he's awesome).

It always makes me sad to think that the Doctor blew it with Jack, because he could really have been there for him for ever. But, the Doctor is an ass. I guess if he hadn't left him like that then we wouldn't have Torchwood, I suppose I can forgive him. And there's always the chance that one of his future incarnations will pull their head out of their arse.

Nate

[unfeathered]

Hee! I have *tried* to write Jack/Lorne - I had a follow-up prompt for Jack coming to Lorne post Time Agency to find his path, but I just couldn't make it work and it's such a shame, because you're right. They would be fantastic together!

the Doctor is an ass

Yep. *g* I have finally let go of Doctor/Jack in canon, as I feel that Jack has - but I'm still very, very willing to enjoy it in fanfic! *g*

[azure-chaos.livejournal.com]

I think Jack has probably realised that he has something far better in Cardiff and at least the others in Torchwood treat him with respect (except for when they shoot him and stuff lol). I gave up Doctor/Jack ever happening in canon but probably because I can't see him with 11, I only really see that chemistry with 9 & 10. Though I'd love to see one of those specials where 5 (or someone) is in Cardiff because they so obviously wouldn't know each other (though I suspect fanfic writers could do it better).

Tis a shame about that fic, Lorne/Jack would be cute. Maybe my muse will oblige me sometime.

Nate

[unfeathered]

Yeah, that's about it for me too, though yes, I adore Jack/any of the classic Doctors. becky_writing has written quite a few Five/Jack ficlets which are gorgeous, and so has stackcats at thewordsmithery.

[azure-chaos.livejournal.com]

Oooh, thanks for the recs. I'll check them out :)

Nate

[unfeathered]

No problem. :-)