FIC POST: "The Watchmaker" (Doctor Who, PG-13)

[lizbee]

aka The Long And Surprisingly Plotty Romana Fic. At last.

Title: The Watchmaker
Summary: Romana, after the Time War.
Characters: Romana, Mickey, UNIT, Harriet Jones, Ten, Rose, others
Spoilers: Specifically through to "The Christmas Invasion", vaguely for season 2.
Rating: PG-13
Length: approx 20,000 words

At almost 70 pages, it's a bit long for an LJ post, so it's on my website:

( Fake cut! )

Comments

[pauraque]

I've never seen Dr. Who of any kind, but congratulations on finishing something so long! I wish I had that kind of stamina. :)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm kind of in shock, given that it took me several years to write "Girl Most Likely". This took ... well, the first four pages took two months, and the rest was done in a matter of weeks.

Between you and me, I have whiplash.

[kerravonsen]

Mmmm. Intriguing. A different way of bringing Romana back, but it fits, and, like, angst! And being her own person. I like it.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Funny you say it's different, because I honestly couldn't imagine that kind of story going any other way. *stares at brain*

I'm glad you like it, though! I spent the night quietly worrying that it was a turkey.

[kerravonsen]

What I meant by "different" was that the whole "missing, damaged, assumed dead" scenario didn't occur to me; I'd assumed that the only way of bringing Romana back would be to say that she'd been in E-space all this time.

[onijade.livejournal.com]

Very cool indeed. I particularly like the way it somehow captures an alien sense of the world, alongside a very English one. Very Doctor Who.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *does a victory dance*

(And an actual English person, if I remember your country of origin correctly, hasn't laughed at me. So that's good.)

[nostalgia-lj.livejournal.com]

You for the win!

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

YAY!!1!

[lizziwig.livejournal.com]

Hi there! Just thought I'd friend you, if that's okay by you, since I like your HP fic, and this. The characterisation of Harriet and Romana is excellent, and even if Romana is dead in canon, long may she live in fics like this!

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Friend away -- I'm really pleased you liked it.

[ladyrazorsharp.livejournal.com]

Just finished. You know that I don't know anything (much) about the Doctor and Co., but I loved every word.

This may just be me...but the opening scene, with Romana as prisoner, getting ready to endure more mistreatment...sounded vaguely familiar. ~_^

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

*shifty look*

I assure you it was unintentional. But I'm really pleased you liked it.

[ladyrazorsharp.livejournal.com]

*g* I meant it purely as a compliment. It's a powerful passage. Romana's stubbornness to survive--maybe not bodily, but a mental assertion of do what you will but you can't have what makes me me--is very clear.

From the little I know of her, Romana sounds like someone Russell might find a sort of kinship with. They both have to depend on themselves--and are fiercely independent, and assume too much of the blame--but care deeply for those who matter to them. Unfortunately, Romana is lonely, while Russell has found her soulmate. I think the Doctor could be (and at times it seems like he's saying "I'm here if you want me") her soulmate, but she never takes him up on it. Sounds like she doesn't(or won't allow herself to) believe in such things...

When she remembered, oh, that was a great moment. And hee hee, I like how the Doctor finds all her hiding places. I don't know what it is about him, but I love how he's so...he's like an overgrown kid. Unapologetic for what needs to be done but never harsh. Hard to describe, really...

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

*grin* Russell and Romana would get on like a house on fire, except when they competed to see who was smarter.

The Doctor is Romana's soulmate, in a way (beyond the fact that they're the last two members of their species), but I don't think they could spend more than a couple of years together before they both had to move on. But when you're practically immortal, that's not a bad way to be.

[fyrdrakken]

I have no backstory on Romana, and only know about the Time War what little bits I've picked up from the 2005 and 2006 seasons or on LJ, so I can't judge your characterization or the plausibility of your method of preserving Romana from Gallifrey's demise. (Though the use of a time-proof material seems to have well served its purpose.) What I can say is that I'm greatly appreciating a character who doesn't get sucked into the Doctor's mystique -- and who takes similar attributes to his but adds a sense of responsibility and a decent attention span to get a different approach to Time Lording.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

*grin* Well that's Romana all over -- she has her own mystique. I'm very pleased you liked it.

[melata-fic.livejournal.com]

I can't believe I haven't gotten around to reviewing this yet. *headdesks* It owed a reply as soon as I read Romana trying to recite the precepts.

Utter and epic brilliance.

Characterisation was spot-on, the idea was unique... and there was a point to it. :D

I would suggest that it maybe needed more Romana and Mickey interaction, but I just love the concept presented at the end.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I'm so pleased you liked it! Because you know, I've friended a lot of Romana fen, and of course I worried that no one would like it, and there was fretting...

I'm still thinking of writing a sequel where Romana and Mickey FIGHT CRIME together. Actually, I've started one, but I'm waiting to see how soon I get Russelled.

[melata-fic.livejournal.com]

No need to fret.

Whee, sequel! *is happy at the mere thought*

AU... the best two letters ever. Plus it's canon to have them. :D

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, is this ever wonderful. Romana, Mickey, and Harriet. I just want to hug it and love it and call it Fred. This was plotty and plausible, and I really believe it could happen like this.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

*pleased*

I'm really glad you liked it. And you know, like Romana, this fic would be secretly pleased to be called Fred.

[scarlettgirl.livejournal.com]

Here from WhoDaily...

What a lovely, lovely story! It felt like one of the audio adventures or a really nice arc - the plotting was tight and the characters beautifully defined and executed. I'm very much new school but you can't help but know how important Romana was to The Doctor so the thought of her possibly surviving, and surviving damaged was brilliant. Plus Mickey was just adorable.

And the thought of Romana spending her days manipulating time, human time, is achingly sad and perfect.

This felt so real and plausible I'm going to be quite upset if we don't get a little DW canon mixed in with Torchwood come fall.

I'm tucking in memories and am going to pimp like mad.

Very nice work!

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

I read this a few days ago, but haven't had the time to leave feedback what with being busy graduating and moving, and this will still not be very comprehensive feedback but, I just wanted to say that this story was EXCELLENT!! Mmmm.... plot. The UNIT stuff was also the awesome. And Mickey!! Anywho, more thoughts in the future, and again: YOU = FANTASTIGRAPHIC.

Random thing from story that I loved: ruminations on the first doctor living with Susan in the 60's. Oh so good. More later!!