"Doctor, time lord, no." He tried to reason for the millionth time.
"Donna, human, yes!" Her voice yelled back before climbing steps leading away from the control room. "I've already got a dress, we are going to this party."
They were going to this party. With too much in his pockets for the Doctor to consider changing coats, but he did exchange his usual pinstripes for an elegant black suit, complete with a matching bow tie. There was no arguing in general with Donna once an idea had formed, much less after a decision had been made, but the woman wasn't so fast getting ready, giving him extra time to scan their invitation, something about it intriguing.
"What do you have for me, girl?" The TARDIS hummed back as if saying be patient. "Sorry."
It took few minutes of that box involved by a sphere of light for an extensive list of details to show up with a ding! on the monitor, making him promptly stand up straight. Lines of information showed up, automatically translating to English.
"Originated from Earth, normal. Twentieth second century, interesting. How, and even better: why did it come to Donna?" And not me, he though the last bit while skipping over minor details about composition, this question bothering him more than all other characteristics. "Bioholographic snow, expensive but all things considered not surprising coming from them. Definitely not alien, bummer."
Donna Noble, you are invited to Christmas at the Manor.
It is an annual tradition to celebrate our years with the most important people in the universe and we couldn't do this year without you.
Your presence is a must and so is a plus one!
Scan the chip for coordinates on how to get here.
The Canassis Family
He had heard something about them once, though in all fairness a lot of things were registered by his brains over hundreds of years traveling universes. Still, what truly intrigued the time lord was why such a thing had reached Donna (and how they'd achieved it once a motive was set).
"I am ready for a party." The Chiswick native announced, making a scene out of entering the control room. "Free booze, rich people food..."
Emerald green truly fit her, such a color bringing out her eyes.
"Hopefully no giant alien wasps." Their last adventure had been quite eventful.
"Hopefully no aliens other than me this time."
Wishing for a nice Christmas party was extremely foolish given who they were, but still that's what the Doctor did with both his hearts while setting their course.
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"Earth, twentieth second century." He announced with glee. "Humans finally reach the stars with greed, a bit like the eating mummies part of European history."
"People ate mummies?" Bill voice echoed disgust at the historical fact.
"There used to be so many, did you think someone just up and stole them?" Her facial expression was answer enough. "Well, actually someone did but that doesn't matter right now."
She made a disgusted face, his brains quickly conjured images from a long forgotten adventure which were all quickly dispersed by his company's voice:
"You're right. What matters is why I am in the middle of some random field instead of being at uni." A side glance was her only answer. "Unless this is the party I've been promised because you lost our bet."
"One which I was manipulated into." There was a fondness to his tone. "But I am also a being of my word."
"Being?"
"Well, I may not always be a man but I'll always fulfill my end of agreements, manipulative as they are." He felt conflicted brewing internally, it'd probably be better to just drop her off back home, until her bright smile was registered. "So get changed unless you fancy getting hypothermia."
"I didn't bring any clothes." Captain Obvious remained unsaid.
"Down the hall on your left, go past every yellow door, across the brewery, go up seven floors on the lift and there should be a wardrobe that fits you." His matter of fact directions barely registered when Bill ran into the TARDIS.
It seemed so out of character for him to actually go through with this, however being stuck at that place for years on end plus the TARDIS refusing to land anywhere else made for a pretty convincing case. So two birds with one stone and all that right? Added to that, a little adventure was probably not going to kill him.
Unless Nardole found out. Then he'd be super dead.
"In your future, Coraline Canassis is it for lack of a better expression." His voice produced puffs of smoke in the frigid air. "She's starred in movies, recorded best selling music and modeled for most famous brands."
"So she's pretty then." Even if she'd fallen for Heather, Bill always appreciated a pretty face when she saw one.
"I guess, though I fail to see how that's relevant."
Their quick strides soon carried them across a snowy field into a warm foyer. A ceiling that had to be at least three meters above Bill's head had an effect very similar to the snow falling from the great hall ceiling in Harry Potter, it was impressive.
"Dude, this is amazing." The Doctor silently prayed to whatever was out there for a quiet night.
"It is, isn't it?" He offered his arm to her as they glided into an true winter wonderland.
The large ball room's ceiling had a similar effect which left people covered in rapidly disappearing snowflakes. Everyone seemed at ease around tables covered in forest green towels, all of which were placed along walls so as to leave space open for dancing and mingling. It had been so long since he had done something as simple as going to a party (none of the faculty members at Saint Luke's likes him that much) that The Doctor too was blown away by this. Every little detail emanated a christmasy feeling, including staff members that wore outfits resembling Santa.
"Can I have your attention?" A blonde woman stood in front of an elevated table sitting whom he assumed to be the Canassis family. "Thank you all for coming, I am Caroline."
A song his companion had told him was a traditional Christmas one became quieter as a speech began. She is pretty barely registered because as usual his attention had diverted elsewhere, to a maid just behind the family's table. Unlike all other, this one stood tensely in her burgundy outfit, eyes staring a hole on a man's back.
"Bill, look at that." It couldn't be a coincidence to give someone such a hard stare then begin a discreet exit.
"Shut up, Doctor." His friend was more preoccupied with a pretty blonde though.
With an eye roll, his footsteps quickly followed the woman through a side door.
"Wait up!" The Doctor ran after her, wishing for a pair of red converse sneakers instead of these dress shoes.
The woman, however, seemed to have no problem running with stiletto heels.
"Unfortunately, parties don't last forever." Bill continued blissfully unaware in the ballroom, smiling at how a ginger woman seemed to love everything. "So close your eyes, take a deep breath and live this moment."
The Doctor barely had time to focus on scared green eyes before things went black.
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this chapter is just an intro and I'm super excited because I've planned this whole episode out to be six-seven chapters long. Please, don't be silent readers 💙
26/04: just fixed a minor grammar issue