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[attackbrows]

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[spoilers]

[ River hadn't just been born on the battlefield. She's a weapon, shaped for only one purpose. The fact that she has any morals at all is, frankly, something of a miracle. It's less a sense of right and wrong and more a sense of acceptable and unacceptable.

It hadn't simply been about vengeance, not for her. And she tells him as much. ]

It wasn't that, Sweetie.

[ River's darkness might run even colder than that. ]

They would have done it again and again. They'll never stop. They'll never change.

[attackbrows]

[His brows furrow. How easy it must be to lead on with a pistol in hand. The two lead similarly dangerous yet different lives. Retaliation tends to hit several forks in the road.]

They did it for the orb! The exact reason we were down there. Not to play judge, jury and executioner.

[Death is inevitable. But death isn’t justice. Never was or will be. If it was, his little tiff with the Daleks would have ended a millennium ago.]

I didn’t sign this contract to roleplay as some space marine with pudding for a brain.

[spoilers]

[ She doesn't waver, doesn't even raise her voice. ]

This time. They did it for the orb this time.

[ There's a glint of something dangerous in her eyes, anger warring with calm. ]

And you, Doctor, play judge, jury, and executioner plenty. Or did you think using words rather than bullets excuses you from the outcome?

How long have you known me, Doctor? I'm not playing any role. And I'm certainly not a space marine. No one points me at a target and tells me to shoot. Not anymore. You know they aren't the first, and you know they won't be the last. I've killed for better reasons, and I've killed for much worse. But it hasn't been anyone's decision but mine for a very long time.

[attackbrows]

[He nods.]

So be it, eh? Take away their source to the pulsefire. Take away the orb. No. That isn’t enough. What do I possibly know about facing your worst enemy straight on? Shoot one day. Wash, rinse, repeat until justice is truly served!

[He turns to walk around the corner.]

This is your life now, Doctor Song.

[spoilers]

[ She laughs, actually laughs, though it may have something of a hysterical edge to it. But she doesn't follow, just shouts after him. ]

It's 'Professor,' Sweetie.

[ If he wants to insult her, he can at least do it right. ]

And I'm already dead. Or have you forgotten?

[attackbrows]

[He stops in place. The blue of his eyes turns to look on at her.]

No.

[He sticks his hands inside the pockets of his trousers.]

But I’m also a firm believer in second chances.

[With that, he turns to exit.]

[spoilers]

A second chance for what, Doctor?

[ Life? He may be talking to the wrong person. Hasn't she done enough lingering about? ]

To be someone I'm not? I've had quite enough of that for one lifetime.

And our friends on that planet were well beyond second chances, too. Whatever you feel, Doctor, they made their own choices.

[ There's venom in her voice on the word friends. ]

[attackbrows]

Then what is the bright line then? You pull the trigger and that’s it? You proudly carry on with a badge of honour? Hop over to the next planet. See the next act of injustice and aim directly at the head?

[For all he cares, River can have venom out her pores. That won’t stop him from forgoing his creed. The promise he made himself after the war.]

I didn’t live to be this old just so I can default to some basic bouts of retribution.

[spoilers]

Basic. I see.

You don't know me at all, do you, Sweetie?

[ Did she enjoy the violence? Probably still a little more than she should. There's a thrill of adrenaline that's addictive, especially when you've been born into it.

But pride? Honour? ]

Would you like a list, my love? Details, perhaps. And a reason for each so that you can judge my sins yourself.

[attackbrows]

I don’t need one. I lived it, Sweetie.

[Two assassination attempts. A weapon carved out of the Silence. And yet, here he stands. A testament to both time and madness.]

Do you honestly think that I’m so fragile that your sins will crack my vows to you as your husband?

[spoilers]

A fraction of it. You got off lightly.

[ She steps closer, fingers itching to reach out and press against his chest. They stay at her side as she flexes them restlessly. ]

Fragile isn't the word I would choose.

[attackbrows]

Good.

[His footsteps inches closer to her. He knows that look. If there is anything he can infer from his previous regeneration, he knows that there is about a millennium’s worth of words hiding beneath her eyes. Words that neither of them can ever say to each other.

His hand swoops in and threads between her fingers.]

It doesn’t suit either of us.

[spoilers]

Not particularly.

[ Her fingers tighten around his, all the things she can't (or won't) say poured into that single point of contact. ]

I haven't been allowed many choices in my life, Doctor. I won't apologize for the ones I make now.