Unacceptable Service

[Celeste De La Cour]

Don't you know who I am?

The Year 5431

The Diamond Asteroid Shopping Mall was, even a thousand years later, it seemed, still something that Celeste could grasp onto. Or so she thought, but as she had approached, she had realised much nothing was quite what it once was. The mall, named so for being constructed on an asteroid of pure diamond, had, in Celeste's time, been the exclusive venue of the rich and famous, where they went to obtain luxuries your average galactic citizen could not, otherwise, afford. It was just the kind of stress relief Celeste needed after the ordeal with her damaged ship, and the incredible jump in time. Besides, they would hopefully be able to repair the light drive on her ship, capable only of small jumps. The starship customisation crews there were legendary. They were the ones that had fully customised Celeste's pink luxury yacht, even customising the engine glow to be pink (at a huge impact to the ship's performance; but Celeste didn't care, performance was nothing compared to appearance; it was the same reason she had her muscle mass and body weight genetically reduced so much, maybe she couldn't open a door, but she'd always look good).

However, the closer she got, the more she realised something was wrong. Firstly, there had been no automatic extension of a greeting upon her arrival, nobody fawning that Celeste De La Cour was spending her time at such a location, but she supposed she had to accept that, it had been a thousand years. But worse than that, there were thousands of star traffic signals. Perhaps more. As the great diamond asteroid came into view and Celeste's delicately manicured hands worked the controls, she realised something else was wrong. It didn't sparkle like it used to. In fact, the entire thing had been built over! The exclusive spa and mall had been turned into... into...

...a common shopping centre! It seemed that anybody could visit! It stretched out across the web of asteroids, the diamond being almost entirely gone now and invisible. They had... ruined it! The perfect place of luxury and they had turned it into another centre for... for... common plebs!

Her ship beeped a warning on a pink warning light (all of Celeste's lights were pink). She was low on fuel and the engines were failing. The modification to the colour of their glow was draining too much power. Celeste didn't have a clue how to fix it. She couldn't even lift the toolbox. She couldn't open it. Let alone fix anything. Her only hope was to land at the mall...

***

Finally touching down, after having to request permission like some nobody, Celeste descended from the landing ramp of her ship, heels clicking delicately as she exited the ship, which was landed in a busy docking bay. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the common starships all around her. She had never parked in a public bay in her life. To her left was a tired looking, oily freighter that made her feel ill just looking at it, and to her right a tiny blue box that most certainly didn't deserve to grace the same space as her. She turned her nose up, and began to walk away, looking for the valet to take her ship, before realising that there wasn't one.

She made her way into the first part of the complex, looking for somewhere that did starship repair, but predictably getting distracted by the clothing store as she moved. She browsed for a moment, aware that many people were staring. That was natural, she was used to it, and she gave them a flick of her hair, smiling as she did so. Of course they'd stare. A thousand years later or not, she was Celeste De La Cour, the most beautiful woman in the galaxy...

Until a guard approached her.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, somewhat perplexed.
"Oh, good, are you here to take my ship to a better landing bay?" she asked, turning with a smile as she fished for her keys. "These things were far too heavy to keep carrying, after all," she groaned. She wasn't kidding either. They were too heavy for her modified frame. Even keys weighed her down.
"Uh, no, ma'am, it's just... we've had... some complaints. Your... perfume, is making some of the shoppers uncomfortable," he said tactfully. Celeste stared in surprise.

To understand, you had to understand Celeste's body modification. At four years old, she was genetically enhanced so that her body always created a perfume scent. By six years old, she was too used to it, and wanted to be able to smell how pretty she was at all times, so demanded she be modified for the scent to smell stronger. She did for subsequent birthdays, right up until her teenage years. Now her body generated so much perfume at all times it flooded a room and made eyes water.

Naturally, Celeste thought she smelled great.
"Well, perhaps they'll be lucky and some of it will rub off onto their clothing," Celeste smiled politely, and went to carry on.
"Ma'am, I don't... We're asking you to leave. Please return wearing less," the guard said wearily. He wasn't paid enough for this.
"Wearing less? I'm Celeste De La Cour! I don't wear less perfume!" she insisted. "Besides, it's genetic. I can't help it. So you'll just have to co- Hey! What are you doing!?" The guard took her by an arm, and began to lead her out, an irritated look on her face. "Y-you can't do this to me! I'm Celeste De La Cour! Hey! Unhand me!" she said as she was led straight back to the hangar bay.
"You've also not paid your landing fee," the guard said grumpily, through teary eyes at all the perfume.
"Th-that is not true! I gave you my card number!" she replied.
"It was declined," the guard said.
"De-cly...ned?" Celeste repeated. She'd never heard the word in her life...

The guard just sighed, leading her towards the hangar...

Thirteenth Doctor @yazminkhan

[Thirteenth Doctor]

Before, The Doctor took companions to places as a man. Now, she was taking her companions places as a woman. In some cases there were differences, and in some there were not. Her tastes by far were different, but the scenes she'd venture were not really, just only new to the eyes she was looking through in this incarnation of herself. So in some ways, and some respects going as a girl to some places was about as new experience for her as it would be for her companions.

So when she had landed the TARDIS at their latest destination, she couldn't help but to have felt a sort of sense of excitement at what would lie beyond the TARDIS doors. Of course she had not wasted any time getting them out and about. There was no time to waste when going to a mall and there was so much to do and see. Especially for all her new senses to smell, hear, taste, and touch. Honestly, court food, it would be like a buffet for her taste buds. So she had to make sure there would be a whole day of exploring. It was like the mall of America...but in the far future and on a completely different planet! What could be more exciting and enticing.

They'd already been to quite a few places already, some stuff in hand of course. Who knew she'd get into shopping, most of her other incarnations weren't. Big ear's she was certain had not bee as far as she could recall, Sand shoes wasn't that much into it except for getting maybe something new to wear or getting something for someone else. Fez head was all about the more entertaining parts as she could recall when it came to a possible shopping mall experience like this. He wasn't as much into the material parts as per say someone else. Brows...only if they had to she believe she recalled, only sentimental stuff or just off the beaten path, but as far as shopping itself went, he wasn't much of a shop person. And it wasn't to say that she believed it was because she was a girl that she liked shopping now more than before. It felt just more like a...she supposed "relatable' feeling thing. She was able to connect with some of her companions more so now because she was able to express an outward visage that gave off the impression of more interest because of visual same gender. Something humans constantly worried about, but not time lords or Gallifreyans in general for that matter.

So as they had been chatting about all the things that were of the latest time the mall was in, and of course how just some old and ancient classics always seemed to pup back up in the universe now and again such as clothing styles and modernized classic items, they'd somehow came across the scene with the struggle between an extremely petite girl and a more buff guard. Before getting involved though she'd even gave a chuff laugh that even from century to century the vinyl would make a resurface from time to time and things like books. It all just depended on the time period to say what decade, century, or millennium would pop up as a classic return.

But now that something else was catching her attention she decided to investigate. Not that it was probably any of her business, because it probably wasn't, but she didn't care, she decided to see what the alarm was and why such a stronger individual was nearly roughly dragging a smaller girl off somewhere. she could tell the person was a guard and probably just trying to do their job, but that was no reason to cause another distress. She needed to know why, whether her lead was followed or not.

"Excuse me, excuse me!" she called out to the guard to try and get their attention as they walked the girl off. She moved to catch up to the guard. She was going to temporarily play dumb about the person being a guard even though she knew good and well better. She wasn't always fond of gun carriers, even if it was for duty. You had to really earn her trust for that sort of thing. People like Danny Pink, and even Yaz whom she knew was a cop, but she trusted Yaz to be smart. "Where do you think you're taking her? Can' you tell the poor girl is clearly in distress?!"

It was the moment she got into the range of the girl and her perfume that she got probably the reason right away, but that was no reason to man handle someone who clearly didn't look like they could take on plant much less a buff being. However, if she was given the opportunity she was going to help the girl get her way out of this. Granted she had no idea she was dealing with a rich spoiled brat child, but she was not about to disregard what her last incarnation gave instructions for her to be. And one of those was ...be kind. Always be kind. So here she was, being kind. And maybe she'd get help from her fam on this one too.

[Yasmin Kahn]

It had been a while since Yasmin had been to any form of mall so when The Doctor told her they were going to a big, spacey one, Yaz could hardly contain her excitement. The entire trip in the TARDIS was filled with her pacing around with a huge grin on her face, she was just struck with so many ideas of what she might see in a giant, space mall. She only hoped The Doctor had forgot the teddy incident and wouldn't decide that it would be a fun idea to tease her by picking one up and asking about it. The thought of that alone had her turn her back to The Doctor to hide her red face, playing it off as if it was just part of her pacing around the blue box.

"This is gonna be amazin', doc! Ain't even been to a space shop before, ya think they've got space clothes around there? It would be funny ta see people in shirts that just 'ave big old galaxies for a pattern. Or even black shirts with little stars on them, tha' could be good too! There's so much ya could find around these kind of places and one in space?! This might be one of the best ideas ya've had yet!"

Yaz was so caught up in her long rant that she didn't even realise they had landed and The Doctor had already made her way outside. Oh, that sneaky little... was all she thought to herself before she grabbed her officer jacket and her hat from the coat rack and slipped them on. Once she was wearing them, she headed out of the TARDIS and followed The Doctor. The sight she saw had her confused. An innocent looking woman being dragged away and of course, The Doctor being there to help her. Yaz noted the distress but before she could say anything, The Doctor already spoke her thoughts. However, that was not going to stop her from putting her two cents in. Though she wasn't sure if it would do anything, she took her badge from her jacket and held it up to the man.

"Not only is she in distress but she's also unarmed! Let 'er go. Look 'ere, I'm an officer. We'll take it from 'ere and deal with the situation, ya got no need to stick around and trouble yourself."

[Celeste De La Cour]

Don't you know who I am?

Things seemed to turn around as Celeste was helplessly marched back to the hangar. At first, a woman came over to interrupt, to protest at Celeste's shockingly inappropriate treatment, obviously, but then things turned out to be even better when her companion arrived, showing a badge. Ah ha, so they were staff! That would soon straighten all of this out.

The guard seemed to regard Yaz and the Doctor for a moment. He didn't recognise the badge, but his eyes were watering and he wanted done with this little snob.
"You know what? You want her, she's your problem. I've got better things to do," the guard grumbled, unhanding her and walking away, muttering to himself.

Celeste turned to the two newcomers, and smiled.
"Now, that's better. Some proper treatment," she said proudly. She looked at Yaz. "So, if you're security, then you must be..." she looked to the Doctor, wrinkling her nose. She didn't make much of the clothes. "You must be my personal shopper! Good, I wondered when you'd arrive. I can hardly carry my own bags after all," she laughed as if the very idea was hysterical. "I have to say though, that outfit? I don't really trust a personal shopper who can't dress themselves, but maybe we can find something for you as well. I mean, if I have to be seen next to you, the least you could is put on some nice designer heels and a dress," Celeste went on, before turning around to march right back into the shopping mall, clueless to how offensive or full of herself she was being.

"I'm Celeste Chanel De La Cour, obviously. It might be a thousand years later, but I'm assuming you knew that, if they sent you to be my personal shopper," Celeste went on. She paused thoughtfully, turning to Yaz, and dumping a keycard chip into her hand. "Tell you what, now you've finished with us, can you go and park my ship in one of the luxury bays. I don't like having it in a standard hangar next to any old ship," she added, before turning back to the Doctor. "So, I was here to fix my ship, but since you're here, I think we should start with shoes, don't you? I haven't been shoe shopping for a thousand years, technically speaking..." she said, her eyes already lighting up at the idea of a good shop.

Thirteenth Doctor @yazminkhan

[Thirteenth Doctor]

As far as The Doctor had been concerned, she felt that, that had been probably too easy of a release. Most guards were not that willing to give up on something unless they had too. After all future guards of malls could be just as fluff headed as twenty first century ones sometimes. So she had eyed the man wearily when he'd left. She almost had been ready to read off some subsection of code of conduct or something out her ass from that century in order to have him let her go. But no here he just let her be with them. Well didn't he just take the fun out of everything. She was so ready to sass the hell out of that guy too. There was a slight part of her that had thought that might have been fun. But alas.

However, her demeaner changed when the girl had started talking. Was she for real? Who the blazes was she? The Doctor sure didn't know her, but she sure as the universe wondered if she was some distant relative of Cassandra that was for sure. And even though that woman had been the most repulsive trampline ever, in the end even The Doctor knew she'd done the right thing by saving her care taker, which ironically turned into her. Was that fate or what. Was this girl going to have to make up for that same sort of mistakes? She sure hoped not. Maybe, and this was a dangerous thought, maybe just maybe this girl could be rehabilitated before she ended up like Cassandra. That attitude of her's sure needed readjusting. She even realized she'd gone a bit slack jawed at her words.

"Excuse me...wait...who did you say you were again...Celeste." she moved closer to the girl. A part of her wanted to snark the latter part of her name sounded like a hard liquor, but she refrained. "I'm sorry but I don' know you. Yaz and I we were shopping when we saw you being man handled by the guard. I'm sorry, but we we're sen' here for you. We were jus' passing by."

She looked at Yaz, hoping the girl wouldn't have a meltdown herself. After all the girl had just given her the keys to her vehicle without a single care as to who Yaz was.

[Yasmin Kahn]

Yaz had been exploring around and had lost track of The Doctor before their encounter with this Celeste, which was why she seemed so confused when she was alone for a moment. However, now she was back with her and there was also this new woman who they had just helped by stopping the guard from escorting her out. Her strong sense of perfume made Yasmin's eyes sting and she had to blink a few times to clear her eyes of it. However, her concerned gaze turned to a look of 'Is this girl serious right now?' and the Doctor would likely be able to tell that Yaz was using everything she had in her self control in order not to punch this woman into next Tuesday. If this planet even had Tuesdays.

"Are...are ya serious right now? Sorry ta break it to ya, princess." When she had said 'princess', her voice was dripping in sarcasm. "But I ain't here to park ya vehicle. Nor am I actually this place's security. And oh, dearie me...did I jus' hear ya call my pal 'ere ya personal shopper? She ain't ya personal anything! That, there, is The Doctor and she spends her days going around and savin' people! Now, we came over 'ere ta help because what we saw was an innocent woman getting dragged out of 'ere by a creepy old guard but if that's how you'll treat the situation, by tryna make us do all ya dirty work for ya...I'm almost startin' to wish we hadn't. Ungrateful little sh-..."

Yaz caught herself and exhaled. Work had really been getting to her but she couldn't let that affect her life outside of it. Not wanting to say anything further, in fear of saying the wrong thing or escalating the situation, she merely tossed the keys back to Celeste and ran her hands down her face. She honestly could not believe that even after so many years, from where they must have been in time, there were still selfish brats like this woman. Yaz had dealt with many spoiled and selfish teens in her time but this woman took that to a whole new level.

[Celeste De La Cour]

Don't you know who I am?

Celeste thought she had seen a lot of reactions in her time to her presence; true, they were mostly fawning, or watery eyed politeness while people made excuses to leave (she didn't understand that last one), but the reaction from these two was almost as baffling as it had been from the security guard. First of all, it became clear that they weren't staff sent there to make her day better, which was surprising, but not THAT surprising. After all, Celeste was used to being the most beautiful person in the galaxy (in her own mind at least) and galactically famous, sometimes she got hanger-ons who wanted a holograph or signature, and she understood that. But what was perhaps MORE baffling was how they were being...

...well, rude. An innocent observer may have noted that it was Celeste who had been rude, but Celeste had talked to people in that manner her entire life, and never gotten rudeness back. People just tolerated it from somebody as wealthy and spoiled as Celeste. Or so they usually did. This response was a shock. Shocking enough that Celeste almost gasped and a took a dainty, click-clacky step back in her towering heels.

"Oh, well, if you just wanted to say hi, that's fine," Celeste smiled to the blonde woman. "We can even have a selfie if you want?" she offered with a friendly smile, because she assumed everybody wanted a picture with her, given how beautiful she thought she was.

Unfortunately, before she could say anything else, the rant from the other one started. Celeste looked on in shock, gawping, because she couldn't remember the last time anybody had ever spoken to her like that. Maybe nobody ever had? For a moment, she actually looked abashed. Celeste simply wasn't equipped to deal with criticism, or that kind of talk, and so, she did something that may have been a first occurrence in her life;
"Sorry," she said quietly, sounding a little sheepish. Yes, Yazmin Khan's ferocity did the impossible, and got Celeste De La Cour to apologise. "I just... I mean, you had a badge, and you were acting like-" She was going to finish that thought, but Yaz tossed the keys back to Celeste. It was a gentle throw, a passing them back, but Celeste, to whom the idea of catching something was somewhat like the idea of flying through the air or wearing unfashionable clothing, could do nothing but let out a pathetic, scared scream, and flinch, as the keys landed on the floor in front of her with a soft clink. She looked down, embarrassed for a moment, and picked them (with more difficulty than a person should; but her muscle weakness and long nails conspired against her). Finally, with her keys back, she looked between them.

"I... I wasn't asking you to do my dirty work, you do realise?" she said. Her tone still sheepish, but her posh accent didn't help her sound friendly. Her voice was ridiculously soft, modified to be so, so that she sounded dainty and sweet, but her words were definitely from the upper classes. "My ship is definitely the finest in this hanger, probably in this entire quadrant, even if it is damaged, and I did offer to help your friend find some more fashionable clothes," Celeste suggested, looking over to this Doctor. She wondered what she was a Doctor of. "Maybe you should come shopping with me! I could help you find some WAY nicer outfits than... whatever yucky stuff that is..." she pointed to the outfits with a manicured fingernail, wrinkling her nose. "It's the least I could do! I mean, I might be a thousand years out of date, but TRUE fashion never dies, and most people would KILL for fashion advice from me," she said proudly. "I mean, you did call me Princess, so I'm guessing you know who I am really," she smiled proudly. They could pretend all they wanted, but even after a thousand years, it seemed people still knew her...

Thirteenth Doctor @yazminkhan

[Thirteenth Doctor]

The Doctor could have been more angry at this twit of a girl, but somehow...she wasn't. Perhaps it had stemmed from the fact of Cassandra dying eventually. Perhaps there was a slight sentiment of desire to help change rather than criticize a girl for what clearly seemed to be a sense of confusion. As a time lord...-er lady, she had the capacity she supposed that could allow her to see past the rude girls indignant nature and try and capture her more scared side. After all most people lash out and be rude when they're just scared. However, at the same time, The Doctor would not tolerate her behavior continuing after a while and would make it very clear that she'd need to change in order for help to be given. For now though she'd try and keep the situation defused and hope the girl would become less attitude and more honest friendly if given a chance.

"Easy there Yaz. I appreciate the enthusiasm, but I think our new little acquaintance might actually very well be out of her element." The Doctor stated calmly. "Sorry Yaz can be quite passionate about those she cares about. As for her calling you princess...well, where she is from...it's more of a catch phrase, and not quite a literal statement. As I said we haven't heard of you before now. Also there is nothing wrong with my fashion sense thank you. It might be different than what you like, but as far as I'm concerned this outfit is definitely me. Individualistic like that ya see. Also, how would you know if your ship is the best in the galaxy, you my friend seem a bit outside your element. After all you just said your ships damaged. The finest in the galaxy I'm sure wouldn't be that."

In some back hand way, she was taking stabs at the girl, while also standing up for herself. As was, even if The Doctor didn't say it, inwardly The Doctor knew it would be hard pressed to compare to even a classic type 40 TARDIS that's bigger on the inside and can travel space and time and not really even get so much as a scratch on her outsides.

"Honestly, if you wanted help with your ship, all you have to do is ask nicely." she stated. "After all I know a thing or two about ships...depending on the century of course."

[Yasmin Kahn]

Yasmin let out a breath, a shaky one but she managed. Truth be told, The Doctor was right. They were dealing with someone who may have not even realised the disrespect she had been showing, someone who may have been brought up with certain expectations and when those expectations were not met, the individual would struggle in coping and adjusting to the reactions she would get and on any other occasion, Yaz would be completely forgiving and understanding towards these types of people but the stress had really been getting to her. It was difficult for Yaz to get a grip on herself but she knew she had to if she wanted this to go well.

"...I apologise for the outburst. Work's just been being a real pain and I just ain't in the mood to deal with this type of thing. I realise I may have...overreacted a little. Or a lot. But that's just cause my mind's been full of a lot of nonsense from the workplace. Mostly came round 'ere ta get me mind of things. Really helps ta do this type of thing. Shop at a mall, I mean, not get in mishaps like this. Sorry mate."

Running a hand down her face, Yaz let out another breath. Truth be told, even she wasn't a fan of how she spoke to the woman, in fact she was appalled at her own words. She hated the fact that she was going on like that. In all honesty, she was almost tempted to just walk away and take a second to herself but she remained, in case she was needed.

[Celeste De La Cour]

Don't you know who I am?

Celeste paused for a moment, preparing to open her mouth to counter the Doctor's claims regarding her ship, but then she realised the Doctor did have a point. It was a thousand years later. Oh god, she thought! What if her ship was seen as old and out of fashion by now? That wouldn't do at all! Celeste couldn't exactly fly around the galaxy in an out of date spaceship! It was enough to almost cause a surge of panic through her. She took a deep breath. It was fine. She could handle that. Even if her ship was out of date, it was still stylish, and so what if fashion trends had changed? Celeste set the trends, she didn't follow them. She could handle this.
"Oh, well... I am a Princess," Celeste remarked upon being told it was more of a nickname. "My father owns... well, I suppose... he owned... Paradeux. I... wonder who's in charge of it now?" The moment almost drew some self reflection. Almost. It would have perhaps succeeded had the Doctor not tried to defend her fashion sense, causing Celeste to let out a dainty laugh. "Okay, not to be rude, but when Celeste De La Cour tells you your fashion sense is bad, believe me, you should believe her," she said snobbily, obviously having a high opinion of her fashion taste.

"Oh, you're a mechanic? I suppose that explains the lack of fashion sense," Celeste said with a nod of understanding when the Doctor said she could help fix her ship. "Well, by all means, please, come take a look," Celeste began to lead them towards the large luxury yacht which was, of course, pink, and obviously her's. "I mean, it has been a thousand years since anybody looked at it..." she admitted as she led the Doctor and Yaz towards it.

The other woman apologised, although it wasn't quite the grovelling apology Celeste was used to, and she gave her a smile.
"Oh, don't worry about it. It was actually rather fun. I can't remember the last time anybody has DARED be rude to me," she smiled as she led the pair towards her ship on click clacking heels. "I mean, this is why I don't understand people with jobs. It just seems like an awful lot of unneccesary stress. Who wants to deal with that?" she asked with a shrug, since the idea of working was completely alien to Celeste...
Thirteenth Doctor @yazminkhan

[Thirteenth Doctor]

The Doctor was starting to see the bigger picture now about this girl. She was definitely out of place and time, even for future standards. The Doctor in a certain point of view did feel sorry for her. And she kind of wondered how the whole fiasco really even happened that the girl had even gotten there. There was little to no surprise in her features when Celeste stated she was a princess. It showed, loudly, probably as loudly as everything else about her.


"Yea, nah I'm good mate. I like who I am thanks." The Doctor stated. "But, I will take a look at your ship. No harm in that. Also jobs are important, they keep people busy, put some form of cred on the table, etc. They matter to people because they sometimes like what they do."

She looked at Yaz briefly, wondering if the girl actually enjoyed being a police officer or not. She honestly herself couldn't say one way or the other, but maybe Yaz would offer up something about it eventually.

The Doctor was trying to be optimistic about the ship and her ability to assist. What she'd see though, once they got there, would be something none other than just pure shock really, and not in probably the way Celeste would hope. The vast contrast that Celeste's ship would be to her own would be enough to make her want to probably swallow her tongue and not speak with cheek of she could help it. She was not going to be quite a fan of the color, mostly because she was more into her own TARDIS's blue. However, she would clear her throat a bit and tilt her head to the side before giving a restrictive nod of approval.

"Well...it's definitely a classic." she admits, trying to give it some value. Then looked at Yaz for some back up on the subject so as to not seem too awkward, "Wha' do ya think Yaz?"