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scifirenegadeRating: General
Fandom: (classic) Doctor Who
Pairing(s) / Character(s): The first Doctor, Vicki and Steven
Warnings: agoraphobia, panic attacks
Spoilers: n/a
Note: For the Dread square on my Gen Prompt Bingo card (round 24). Also on AO3
Vicki squealed when she poked her head out of the TARDIS’ doors and dashed towards the entrance of a seemingly normal amusement park. If seemingly normal amusement parks had reptillian ticket salesmen. Steven exited the ship soon after. He stared at his young friend, and made his trademark confused face.
“Wait a minute!” he didn’t want Vicki to get lost and have something bad happen to her.
As he prepared to jog after her — she was standing after the gates, instructing him to come and join her; the ticket salesmen seemed amused by her and must’ve let her in for free — when he felt a gentle tap on the back.
“Young man, could you please stop fretting? Good gracious, you’re reminding me of Chesterton at this very moment,” the Doctor chuckled and ambled after the girl.
Steven couldn’t help but scowl at the remark and sigh. Of course, the Doctor would also dive head first into the unknown.
It wasn’t that Steven didn’t enjoy exploring, but depending on how well he slept the night before, he either became more cautious and calm or more reckless and confrontational. And he slept wonderfully last night.
Paying no mind to the group of squeaking giant chickens that wobbled behind him, he lifted his head. The sign above the entrance read, in ornate purple lettering:
Welcome!! to the Midnight Zone!
“I remind you of Ian, eh?" Steven didn't spend enough time with the man to establish a strong opinion of him. He wasn't looking at the Doctor; his eyes were on Vicki, as she seemed to ponder if the merry-go-round, with some strange snake-like creatures instead of horses, was worth the ride or not. An excited giant chicken ran past her to go in on the attraction.
"At that very moment, yes," the Doctor wagged a finger at him, and then his hand went back to its original place, grabbing the lapel of his coat. "That stubborn young man prided himself on taking life as it came, but would jump at the most inoffensive of noises... Yes, yes he would..." He seemed lost in thought. Steven knew he was very attached to Barbara and Ian, even if he pretended he wasn't.
The Doctor waved his hand at him, and strolled towards Vicki, who had decided against riding the merry-go-round; as she deemed it to be too boring.
They continued exploring. Steven pondered about that one time he took his younger sister to a place like this. He thought the amusement parks back home were more advanced.
Then, he saw it. The looming giant...
Square.
Like a giant wheel, but it was square.
How they all completely missed the thing when they first came in, he would never know.
"I want to ride this one." Steven snickered.
"You have to be joking!" he heard Vicki behind him, "That's for babies!"
He turned to her and narrowed her eyebrows, "For babies?" How things change in a century and a half... "But, I thought you weren't very good on heights?"
"Well, yes. But this works like that old—" she stuck her tongue out in thought, "So I suppose it's not that bad. Right?"
"I don't see your logic," but Vicki ignored him and went in the direction of the "London Square".
They climbed inside the spacious, white nothingness capsule and sat down. There were windows all around.
Steven was ready for what could happen next.
The doors closed, the capsule slowly moved upwards. Vicki took one look out of the window and clung onto the Doctor's arm, who patted her head when she scrunched her face. She was trying to be brave, when there was no reason to be afraid of being afraid.
Eventually, they could observe the whole park from high up — the 4D bumper cars, the odd merry-go-round, the upside-down roller coaster, the giant chicken who wanted to ride the merry-go-round again.
Soon, they were at the highest point, and everything was going smoothly. Vicki was more relaxed and eased the grip on the Doctor's arm, but did not dare to look out of the windows. Her shoes were a more attractive distraction. Maybe, Steven thought, things were not so bad.
Clang!
No.
Oh, no.
The capsule stopped.
Just when Vicki was getting more comfortable.
She started shaking, digging her fingers into the Doctor’s arm, tears streaming down her face. Her galloping breathing sounds reverberated throughout the capsule.
The Doctor held her reassuringly, and Steven sprung from his seat “Deep breaths, Vicki, deep breaths,” he gently placed his hand on her back, for reassurance.
He breathed in, then out. In, out. The Doctor would not let go of her. Soon, she followed Steven’s instructions. In, out, in, out.
He could tell she was still nervous by the way she was gripping the Doctor's arm.
"Think of five nice things, my dear," the Doctor tried not to sound concerned; Steven thought he succeded.
Inhale, exhale, "The picnics me and parents used to go on," in, out, "my pet rabbit Bunny," in, out, "the TARDIS, "in, out, "the way Barbara used to get irritates when I made fun of her for being old, "in, out, "and you two."
The capsule shook.
If they weren’t quiet before, they certainly were now.
Everyone held their breaths. Steven did not — would not — let go of Vicki’s hand.
The capsule shook.
The capsule moved.
Hey exhaled.
"And I'll never go into one of those things again."
Steven and Vicki sat on a bench, waiting for the Doctor, who suggested they all had some candy floss as a treat.
Steven tapped her arm, "Regretting not riding the merry-go-round thing?"
"Not at all! Those are definitely for children!"
They glanced at the famous merry-go-round thing. The giant chicken was going on the ride yet again.
"How many times have they gone through it?"
"No idea..."
"I have brought it," the Doctor said as he approached them. “The delicious treat!”
"But where is most it?" Vicki noticed a bit of candy floss at the corner of his lip. The Doctor looked sheepish.
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Date: 12 Feb 2024 23:12 (UTC)no subject
Date: 13 Feb 2024 08:10 (UTC)