The Cold Shoulder

[Madame Vastra]

As soon as The Doctor's devilish fingers made contact with Vastra's neck, the reptilian woman widened her eyes and after a few seconds of silence, a number of noises escaped the Silurian. First, it was a loud squeal, then a whole stream of laughter, laughter much louder than any the woman had let out during their little duel so far. The final noise, which came alongside the laughing was hissing. Her tongue flicking out of her mouth as the constant hisses escaped her lips, though she had been careful not to let said tongue touch The Doctor, fearing that if it did, she would end up poisoning her closest friend. This in mind, she kept bucking around, turning her body so she'd be lying on her stomach, this was to avoid the risk of harming The Doctor.

"Sta-....HAHAHAHA! No-STAHAAHA-..."

The poor woman could not even form words at this point. She was so caught up in her own laughter that whenever she tried to speak a surrender, all that came out of her mouth was laughter and hisses. Despite how hard she tried to keep tickling The Doctor, the attack on her neck had the Silurian drop the Time Lady's foot, ceasing her fingers nimble attacks on The Doctor's soles. Vastra had a good run in this battle, at least in her own mind, but once anyone would go for that sensitive neck of hers, it was game over, Vastra was defeated. She slammed her palms against the floor while cackling away, trying to get the attack to stop, it was beginning to hurt Vastra to laugh now, and that was when she wanted it to stop. While still laughing, tears falling down her face, she moved her hand to gently tap The Doctor's arm.

"IHIHI GIHIHIVE! STAHAHAP IHIHIHIT!"

[Thirteenth Doctor]

Satisfied with her success to victory, The Doctor stopped when Vastra told her too. She flopped over in exhaustion. A part of her was sort of still laughing though too, even if her whole chest felt like it was on fire. At least she'd be able to come down now. Taking in deep breaths, she just laid there and took in the ceiling and her surroundings.

"Universe above it's been a while. I don't think since...River. Our last time together, we'd just gotten king hydroflax's head in a bag, and I just couldn't hold it in any longer. It was a talking head in a bag! It was so damn funny. Wasted on River since she couldn't tell it was me though at the time. Oh well, heh."

She rolled over on her side to look at Vastra, "I needed that. Whether I should admit that or not. I'm so glad I have you as a friend Vastra. You've always been there when I need it the most."

She smiled and closed her eyed as she propped her head on her hand under her, her elbow and upper arm touching the floor while the other part was at an angle.

[Madame Vastra]

Not able to help it, considering just how ruthless The Doctor had been towards her, Vastra remained lying on her back, still giggling somewhat even after The Doctor had finished speaking. She was absolutely exhausted after that attack. Once she had recovered enough to stop her actual laughter, she smiled softly while looking at her friend. Yes, she lost but in her mind, she won. She didn't win their little game but what she won, was in her initial goal from this whole activity. The reason she started it. To take The Doctor's mind off what was troubling her, because she needed it.

"I have so many questions from that but I'll hold off for now. Instead...well, I'm glad you feel that way, Doctor. Someone like you needs someone to help you in this type of thing, to take your mind off your troubles even for just a moment. Your head is so full of a million things and sometimes, I think you need someone to let you relieve yourself of the stress that it obviously piles on top of you. You are my closest friend, Doctor and I hope you know, I pray it so, that you are always very welcome in our household. Whenever you need something to take your mind off things, we are all here for you."

Vastra smiled once she had said this, placing her hands on the ground to rest her head upon them, looking up at the ceiling before exhaling a soft sigh.

[Thirteenth Doctor]

She listened to Vastra speak. Somehow the voice was so soothing. Perhaps that was something of a trait reptilian species had. In the wild a voice like that could lure prey. Here though, it just made The Doctor relax into a calmed state. Not something she was ever in much, being The Doctor. Usually her mind and body both were on go juice mode. Not saying anything for a good few long moments she just took that chance to actually breath, letting her mind not focus on her thoughts, but where she was right then. It let her notice her own hearts beating and for once, she was not as perturbed by the sound drumming in her own ears lightly as back when, when the Master had shared the sound of a Gallifreyan heart beat pounding through his head as a signal. That back then somewhat terrified her and made her skin crawl while as her tenth self. But here, and now, the sound was natural, normal, and it felt right. She couldn't imagine a life without both hearts to be honest, except under chameleon changing into a human, and that was desperate.

"Yeah, definitely a story best told over tea. Bless River's soul she was great at what she did, but heavens above there were times she could be a little dense. But, that only made my love for her more. It made me smile." she stated loftily, not opening her eyes at all. "I kinda wish there had been more opportunity for group adventures. For a time lo-...mmm lady...I sure don't seem to manage time well do I?"

[Madame Vastra]

Vastra merely chuckled at this, the woman not being able to stop herself from laughing slightly as The Doctor went on about time management. She couldn't exactly deny this either. After all, it had been a very long time since the two had seen each other,so long that The Doctor had regenerated again, and just when she was getting used to the Scotsman too. A short, young woman with a Huddersfield accent, she was absolutely not complaining about this change but her biggest worry came from how long it must have been for The Doctor since she visited, as time ran differently for the two. Knowing she stayed away out of fear of loss, that didn't stop her wondering how long she's been afraid. After thinking on this for a moment, she suddenly gasped as she remembered a comment The Doctor had made when she spoke.

"Tea! Oh good heavens! I had completely forgotten about the tea, I-I....ooh, that is bound to have gotten cold by now, I think we have been at that silly little game for quite a while. I could brew us up another batch...yes...yes, I shall get right on that! If you will excuse me for just a moment, Doctor."

With that said, the Silurian got to her feet and grabbed the two mugs, wandering back to the kitchen as she mumbled and shook her head, muttering to herself about how stupid she must have been to not realize that the drinks would have gone cold and that she should have waited until after they had both finished them to try and cheer up her oldest friend in that manner. Coming to the conclusion that what is done, is done, she poured the cold tea into the sink and got to sorting out another batch. Her mind still clouded with worry.