Fic: One Dreary Day

[thisbluespirit]

In which I continue rescuing ficlets and suchlike from the depths of my notebooks. Here's another one for 500 prompts.

Title: One Dreary Day
Author: lost_spook
Rating: All ages
Word Count: 275
Characters/Pairings: Sixth Doctor
Notes/Warnings: None.
Summary: It was one of those grey days – and then he turned up…

For taiyou_to_tsuki in the 500 Prompts Meme - Prompt 184: One dreary September day – Sixth Doctor. This is a little odd, I know, but it was what came to mind with the prompt for some reason.


***

It was one of those achingly dull days; you know the kind – the sky’s leaden, everything’s grey and it seems impossible that anything will ever change. I’d stopped and aimlessly stared out of the window for at least the eighth time that morning, feeling as if I’d just die inside if something didn’t break the monotony.

That was when I saw him, striding down the street. If the place had looked grey before, it was now mere faded backdrop for him. I’d been silently begging for colour: well, here was a walking rainbow. You should have seen that coat, you really should.

I thought for a minute that the sun had come out, but no – it was just this stranger in a brightly clashing patchwork coat. Abruptly then, he stopped, and swung around and charged across to the opposite side of the street, and then leapt into the nearest front garden, evidently searching for something amidst the shrubbery. A minute or so later, and he emerged back onto the street, not carrying anything that I could see, but he’d finished with the marigolds at any rate. He stopped to look around him, and then marched away, off down Hanson Street. And that was that – he’d gone.

I thought it must be a festival of some sort, and maybe he was a lost player or clown, but there was nothing in the paper. There was only what I’d seen, no explanations. But then again, even if I’d never get the chance to say, even if he was some random eccentric (to use the kindest word), I think maybe right then, that was all that I’d needed.

***

Comments

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

That's a nice scene. I like it very much. I think we can all empathise with the narrator's feelings at the beginning, and I can quite imagine that a cameo from the Doctor would brighten anybody's day. I have to take issue with the suggestion that we should all get a look at that coat, though. I can do quite well without it, thanks! ;)

I like that there's no explanation for the Doctor's actions as well. It doesn't need one. The way that his life briefly crosses with that of an observer works well in a short story setting.

PS: Second paragraph. Should it be "a mere faded backdrop"? It feels as though there's a word missing.

[thisbluespirit]

I don't know, mere faded backdrop still seems okay to me, but I should probably alter it if it bothers other people. :-)

And thank you! :-)

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

No, you should leave it. You're the writer. And you're right, actually. Reading it through again, it does work that way. Clearly half past two in the afternoon was still too early for my brain to be working properly!

[thisbluespirit]

Thanks. I am a writer who's usually wrong and grateful to have friendly people telling me so kindly, so I do appreciate it, anyway. Even if I decided it might be the 0.1% where I'm not wrong... ;-)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice work - very tantalising...

(I'm almost tempted to write an explanation of just what Sixy was up to! But only almost!)

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! :-)

Aha, oh, yes, you should do! That would be awesome. *tempts you a little bit more*

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Hmm, except I have no idea what Sixy was up to - so I shall remain only "almost tempted"! Sorry...

[thisbluespirit]

Tease! ;-p

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Me?

A tease?

As if!!

*snickers*

[clocketpatch]

A bit of Doctorish randomosity is just what's needed to pick up any boringly dull day. This is a great little vignette. I really enjoyed it.

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! :-)

[honeynoir.livejournal.com]

Eee, this is lovely! Who better to brighten a day than Six rummaging in gardens? Loving the characterisation of Six, too, leaping and marching all over. :D

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! So glad you liked it. :-D

[taiyou_to_tsuki.livejournal.com]

A bit late commenting on this, I've been busy this weekend, but this is lovely! It's not the kind of fic it would've occurred to me to write but that isn't a bad thing at all. If anything professional jealousy is spurred. ;)

I rather love the mundanity of this ficlet-- the way the Doctor touches the lives of people, both those close to him and people he's never met, is a theme that recurs in Doctor Who from time to time, but it's usually done in a fairly sensational manner. Here, the Doctor really could be anyone with a funny outfit, and there's no indication the narrator's life was dramatically changed forever by encountering him, but if anything that makes the story more relatable.

It's sweet, and strangely uplifting to think that Six makes a change merely by being his fabulous self, even if it's just making someone's day less dull. :)

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, not late at all! RL busyness is always more important! :-)

And, thanks. I'm glad you liked it. I loved the prompt, but have to say I was a little surprised and unsure by where my brain took it! I'm glad it did work for people, though.

Six makes a change merely by being his fabulous self,

But naturally! He would not be at all surprised to learn that fact, I'm sure. (Peri would be eye-rolling at this point...)

[oonaseckar.livejournal.com]

he’d finished with the marigolds at any rate.
A nice bit of saladings to go with his Uranian toms and Floridian cucumber? I understand they're quite tasty - peppery? - although I've never been able to bring myself to try them out.

Maybe he grabbed some dandelion leaves off the lawn while he was at it? Now they are good...

It's true that whatever incarnation of the Doc has to touch a lot more people's lives in utterly inexplicable ways, than the ones who actually get to know and semi-understand him. Astutely pointed out.

[thisbluespirit]

Thank you! And :lol: I'd kind of assumed he was looking for something in amongst the marigolds and other plants, but maybe you're right and he just had salad cravings!