The Ever-and-Ever Prolixity isn't a TARDIS and isn't predictable in the least, nor does her little ship have the size inside that the TARDIS had, but Charley supposes they work as well as she can expect. On the bright side, landing half a year before she really intended gave herself and Robert opportunities to integrate themselves. Sticking out like a sore thumb might have worked well enough for her and the Doctor in times gone by, but the Doctor isn't here now to distract people from her own anachronistic dress, and Robert's is even worse. At least her future time to the people around her will happen in most of these people's lifetimes. Mr. Buchan's time probably won't happen even in their great great grandchildren's lifetimes.
And so, their time spent in Southampton before the disembarkation had been a blessing in disguise. Charley used the little appropriate coin she had to get them proper clothing and Robert picked up a short-term job on the docks, though not without a bit of whining about manual labor. They could sleep in the ship if necessary, but it wasn't very comfortable and people would start to notice if they slipped off out of town every night, so they used Robert's meager earnings to find fairly cramped lodgings. An unmarried man and woman sharing a room would also attract some attention, but at least that had been just a mundane sort of curiosity. It wouldn't be the first time Charley had been the target of disapproving glares.
The morning of 10 April, 1912 is brisk and the great ship Titanic is looming large over the docks today. Crowds mill about amid the mist and smoke, preparing to board. Charley weaves her way through the people, trying to catch someone's attention in the press of bodies. For days while Robert was working elsewhere (and thankfully being exceedingly patient about indulging this plan of hers), she's been wandering around the parts of the city around the docks, trying to convince someone that sailing on the ship is a bad idea. She can't save everyone that will die in a few days time, she knows that. The Web of Time would unravel faster and with more devastating effects than her one little stolen life caused. Still, she could stop someone from boarding the ship. Surely one or two people not in the books won't do any damage.
The thing she hadn't counted on was how difficult it would be. The rich mocked a silly girl's "panic" over such a large ship, and the poor were just too desperate for a new life to listen.
Still, Charley keeps trying, and today is her last chance. "Are you absolutely sure you want to sail in such an untested ship?" she asks a confused-looking young mother, who blinks at Charley, and then to the ship, then back at Charley. Without a word, the young woman tugs the two little boys away and hurries off without a backward glance.
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And so, their time spent in Southampton before the disembarkation had been a blessing in disguise. Charley used the little appropriate coin she had to get them proper clothing and Robert picked up a short-term job on the docks, though not without a bit of whining about manual labor. They could sleep in the ship if necessary, but it wasn't very comfortable and people would start to notice if they slipped off out of town every night, so they used Robert's meager earnings to find fairly cramped lodgings. An unmarried man and woman sharing a room would also attract some attention, but at least that had been just a mundane sort of curiosity. It wouldn't be the first time Charley had been the target of disapproving glares.
The morning of 10 April, 1912 is brisk and the great ship Titanic is looming large over the docks today. Crowds mill about amid the mist and smoke, preparing to board. Charley weaves her way through the people, trying to catch someone's attention in the press of bodies. For days while Robert was working elsewhere (and thankfully being exceedingly patient about indulging this plan of hers), she's been wandering around the parts of the city around the docks, trying to convince someone that sailing on the ship is a bad idea. She can't save everyone that will die in a few days time, she knows that. The Web of Time would unravel faster and with more devastating effects than her one little stolen life caused. Still, she could stop someone from boarding the ship. Surely one or two people not in the books won't do any damage.
The thing she hadn't counted on was how difficult it would be. The rich mocked a silly girl's "panic" over such a large ship, and the poor were just too desperate for a new life to listen.
Still, Charley keeps trying, and today is her last chance. "Are you absolutely sure you want to sail in such an untested ship?" she asks a confused-looking young mother, who blinks at Charley, and then to the ship, then back at Charley. Without a word, the young woman tugs the two little boys away and hurries off without a backward glance.
"No, wait! Please, miss, the Titanic isn't safe!"