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[attackbrows]

	You've reached Dr. Funkenstein. Expert on all things funkadelic. Please, by all means, save us both the hassle and don't leave a message.
	TEXT | AUDIO | VIDEO

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[groupiedrifter]

Yeah, well. If you're gonna hang up on me or whatever, it is what it is, but I'm not gonna lie about the reason I picked you. I don't like being fake, even if it makes people dislike me.

[He shrugs, quiet for a moment where he sits, hands fidgeting along the edge of a table.]

Anyway, I don't trust you, 'cus you and me didn't exactly hit it off.

But I trust Clara, and she trusts you, so I know you're a good choice.

[attackbrows]

What did I just say about me having little patience?! Come on! Chop, chop. Fork over the details, eh?

[Your words. Not his, buddy.]

[groupiedrifter]

[sPUTTER-]

I wasn't sure you'd — I wasn't thinking that far ahead! Uh-!

[THINK, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT TROUBLES?

Ah, right. Nightmares! The nightmares and the, the nosebleeds?

(You will not tell someone like him about any of that. You will not discuss anything about the drift or your nightmares with him, not ever!

Do not speak to the Doctor about the precursors; do not speak to either Doctor of your symptoms.)

No, no, he shouldn't talk about that stuff. Too personal. Uh-

He rubs his hands through his hair, and his mind stumbles around for something else.]

I've never had this many friends before, and I'm terrified I'm gonna mess it up, because I always mess this kind of thing up; I get defensive and I lash out, and I make really stupid choices, and I'm scared to death I'm gonna end up pushing everyone away because they think I'm an unlikable weirdo who isn't worth their time — especially the person I'm too scared to tell that I'm in love with them!

1/2

[attackbrows]

[The one thing he loathes most about phone calls: The prattling. Between Newton's sputtering and high-speed vocal fry ramble, the Doctor can fit in one double trapeze and an around the corner trick. He stands there in the awkward pause as he pulls the toy back up to his hand.]

[attackbrows]

[But yes, back to playing Universal Truth or Dare.

The best he can offer is a nonchalant shrug and an-]

Okay.

[groupiedrifter]

... Um. Okay.

[He sits there for a long moment, wondering if he should-

Well yeah, he's gonna.]

Do you usually reply that way to people you like, too, or am I just that much of a pain?

[attackbrows]

What more are you looking for? For me to scratch my neck and tell you there’s nothing to be afraid of? Because I’ll tell you. About a majority of that prattle of yours? Right on target! Top of the class.

[Might as well not mince words. It’ll only make matters worse in the long run.]

You don’t need to be a psychoanalyst to infer that little stunt you pulled on the network to be a far cry of “I am Doctor Newton Geiszler, please validate my existence through your currency of attention.”

[groupiedrifter]

Jesus.

[He runs a hand down his face, and while his whole body goes hot with the urge to raise his voice — he at least knows he's at fault for reaching out to this guy in the first place. But boy, he didn't expect that. Something in his stomach twists up, and he makes careful fists, but swallows down his immediate urge to lash out, because it'd probably make the guy really content with the reaction.]

... I mean, I figured you'd be a bad choice, but I shockingly didn't have as many options as I thought. Do you do that to your friends, too? Make them feel like shit?

[But this is The Doctor, right? Clara wanted them to get along, and she had faith in him. Hell, she loved him. Whatever version, he's not completely sure, but it stands to reason every Doctor means the world to her. And Clara means so much to him — is he missing something here? Does he just talk to her like this all day? Make her feel like she's stupid for bothering? Every outburst coiling up in him has to be beaten down, and he tries really hard to keep her in mind. Don't freak out, you reached out first; this person is Clara's person!

He stops, and asks tightly:]

Do I really seem like that?

[attackbrows]

No. That is not the question!

[See? This is exactly what happens whenever he gets himself in these sorts of overly emotional tit for tats. You tell one person the truth of the matter and suddenly you’re the big bad wolf.

That seething anger on the other side of the device is all too familiar. The Doctor knows it all too well. You don’t run all throughout time and space with an air of careless bravado and not have it circle and bite you? It happened to him before with Rose. And it happened again with Amy and Rory. He can’t be the same Space Peter Pan people once thought him to be. That mask has long fallen off.

And so he keeps this as simple as possible:]

You wanted to tell me your troubles; I confirmed them. This is not about me placating half-truths to you. This is about you asking yourself: “How long will I keep running for?”

[groupiedrifter]

... Bullshit, dude.

You don't get to use the 'tough love' argument to be an asshole to someone who tries to reach out. Those two things aren't mutually exclusive. You're just using being honest as a way to be a big dick, get rid of them by acting like they're such a drain on your life energy.

So sorry to waste your time, Doctor.

Forget it, this was a mistake. I was vulnerable long enough, it sucked and now I remember exactly why I shouldn't do it. Thanks for nothing, and you can go fuck yourself.

[BEEP.]