The row of seats began to slowly empty as
The Doctor stood still, staring at the curtained stage and holding his hands.
Ace unfolded her arms and pulled herself up from the worn red chair.
'About time, we ready Professor?' She said
but The Doctor ignored her, his head still swimming in the eternal music.
'Professor,' She said again. 'Doctor!' She
threw a light punch towards his shoulder and knocked the small Time Lord over a
little.
'Yes Ace, yes.' He said, his rasping brogue
strangely jovial and light. Ace had never seen her companion and tutor like
this before and she found it strangely odd.
'Well come on then, let’s go.' She said,
grabbing the small shawl that she had been commanded to wear. Throwing it
clumsily around her shoulders she began to move down the empty row of chairs,
clutching at the edges of her over-sized dress and moving with great difficulty.
Reaching the end of the row she began up the central path, her Doc Martin boots
stomping on the carpet, out of sight form the world as they were hidden beneath
the pomp of her dress.
'I’ll get you outside then Professor, I’m
not waiting around in here all night!' She snorted and stormed off up the
pathway, shoving past a few of Venice’s cultural elite.
The
warm, breezy air of Venice washed over her as she wandered down the steps and
wrapped her shawl around her exposed shoulders and arms. The small square was
busy with various audience members, carriages and vendors, all trying
desperately for that last sale of the evening. Gondoliers stood at the ready up
ahead, a few couples venturing onto the canals, lavishly dressed and unsteady
of their
