SPACEMAN AND THE MOON ― doctor who

five ; the girl in fireplace part two

chapter five ; the girl in the fireplace

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IT WAS, IN FACT, A MALE HORSE WITH A WHITE MANE that followed the Doctor and Luna around the ship.

"Strange," Luna muttered. "I mean, the Clockwork men have outfits like 1700's France, and there's a horse aboard..."

"Good point," The Doctor complimented. "Oh, that is — that's perspective."

Luna smirked. "I know, you're in love with me, it's okay, you can admit it."

He laughed but didn't respond, bumping his shoulder into her own. "But really," she started again. "Why is everything themed? And why are they so hellbent on Madam de Pompadour?"

The Doctor shrugged. "I'm not sure, really. Could be any number of reasons, could be they just picked open a pocket of someone and—"

"—Right, but why her? And why now? Why haven't they taken her yet? What do they even need her for?"

"You're asking the right questions." He turned around to the horse with a sour face. "Will you stop following me? I'm not your mother!"

Luna smiled, resting her hand on the horse's head. "I'll be your mother, sweetheart," she cooed, much to the Doctor's dismay.

"Oh, come on," he groaned. "Really?"

She shrugged. "Shut it, I'm keeping him. I'll let you name him..."

He pouted for a second, taking a sniff before turning his head and scratching the back of his neck. "Arthur."

Luna grinned. "Good name for a horse."

The Doctor fought the smile, but grinned when his eyes met hers. "Great name, yeah."

They came across a couple of wooden doors, opening them to find a field of green; Dyffryn Gardens.

"So this is where you came from, eh, horsey?"

Luna smiled. "His name is Arthur," she sung playfully, following alongside the Doctor.

Reinette was laughing along with another woman, their arms latched together. Luna leaned on a stone wall next to the Doctor, her arm resting against his own.

"She's so happy," Luna commented quietly. "And pretty."

He hummed in response, shaking from his reverie when a peacock sounded near their hiding spot. They both ducked down, hiding from sight. She giggled at his face and he grinned, the pair shooting back up a moment later.

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"Blimey, look at this guy," Mickey shook his head as Luna and the Doctor came up behind he and Rose. The pair stared into a window revealing King Louis talking to two men. "Who does he think he is?"

"King of France," The Doctor and Luna said together, and Luna gave him a look.

"Oi," she slapped his arm. "Don't take my joke."

"Oh, here's trouble," Rose smiled at the pair. "What've you been up to?"

"Oh, this and that," The Doctor started nonchalant. "Became the imaginary friend of a future French aristocrat, picked a fight with a clockwork man."