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It was a cool October evening, and as the leaves crinkled underneath their feet, Ophelia and Lauren were locked in on a conversation.
"I am telling you, Lauren!" Ophelia burst out excitedly. "Humans apparently are really good at staying up past their bedtimes-"
"Oh really, we are NOT." Lauren giggled a little bit. It was clear that the difference in anatomy wasn't quite instilled into her brain yet.
"- some people even stay up all night just to see what happens! Isn't there a whole cultural thing of the Witching Hour?"
"…Oh. There is, but I'm not massively into that. Zephyr might, though!"
"OKAY WE ARE CALLING ZEPHYR NOW." Ophelia's face filled with glee before grabbing her phone and calling her friend. "Zepy, how would you like to stay over with me and Lauren?"
It was gonna be a long night, Lauren realised.
Zephyr rushed into the room. "Oppy!!!" As Ophelia saw her lovely, excitable friend, she was promptly pulled into a big hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting me teach you about this!"
"You're welcome, Zephyr. Plus, the Doctor isn't getting back to me for a few weeks now, and he owes me some fun. Might as well get some now!"
"So, how are you two gonna get to 3am, I dare ask?" Lauren was already too tired to deal with them.
"One word, Lauren: Coffee."
"Oh no."
Zephyr had already brought out the thermos.
"Ooh! I've never had coffee before. Isn't it supposed to taste bad?"
"Well, it's bitter. Might be able to disguise it with sugar if you wanted!" Zephyr thoroughly explained whilst they poured out a bit.
Ophelia then promptly drank the whole tiny cup in one go. "JESUS CHRIST, OPHELIA." Even Lauren was surprised.
"…what? It wasn't actually that bitter, don't…worry about…"
Ophelia's head hit the floor with a soft thunk. Indeed, anatomy being different did do some things.
"Oooookay. She's asleep. What do we do? Do we, like, call the Doctor or…?"
Zephyr wasn't listening. Zephyr was chugging more coffee.
"Oh gosh." Lauren facepalmed.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
Lauren! How's it going with our stargirl?
DOCTOR! No time, you need to explain this to me-
Explain what? What's happened?
Ophelia drank a full glass of coffee and now she's fallen asleep!
Did you say coffee?
Yes! Straight black coffee, bitter as hell, she drank a whole thermos cup of it!
…Lauren, I think Ophelia's body is handling the coffee well. Please do remember that we have some…dare I say-
Don't you say it again.
-superior timelord biology.
I am flipping you off next time I see you, believe me.
And you'll be seeing me soon! I think I'll take over from here. Toodle-loo.
…what are you saying, Doctor.
…Doctor, who was that
Doctor?
Oh fuck off-
Zephyr had - somehow - managed to stay up. Through the coffee partially, they thought to themselves, but also through sheer spite. If Ophelia wasn't awake, then they'd at least try to document what it was like.
So, after a good few rounds of Mario Kart 8 (and some horror videos), it was (finally) 3am. As the clock tolled, Zepy got their phone out and started recording. "Okay, Ophelia. You wanted to see what the Witching Hour was like. Well here we go!" They were giggling softly to themselves, really wanting to find out something. Zepy took a deep breath.
"If there are any spirits in the area, PLEASEEEE come talk to me so I can show my friend!"
A few seconds went past. And then-
KNOCK KNOCK!
Lauren was startled awake by the rushing of feet down the stairs, and like the film noir diva the time lady was, Zephyr opened the door to see a tall, feminine, Victorian ghost. "Hello dearie, have you got a small, coffee-infused girl on your hands?" Missy cracked a grin, before letting herself in.
Zephyr was still recording. "…holy shit, holy shit-"
"Lauren, greetings. I'm…" Missy pulled out a card that had been gifted to her by the Doctor. "…here to talk to you about your car's extended- hang on a minute the Doctor's fucked me over!" Lauren couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Are you here to pick up Ophelia? Figuratively and," she quickly asked, pointing at Oppy curled up like a dragon. "Literally?"
"Of course! I'll get her off your hands, make sure she's still with us. Just let me say hi to your friend." Missy quickly clarified, before turning to Zephyr and their phone. "Hiya darling! You're in safe hands, promise. The Doctor told me to pick you up so that's why you're on the TARDIS. Love you!" She blew a kiss before gesturing to Zephyr to end the video and spinning back around to gently scoop up Ophelia.
"She was saying earlier that the Doctor owed her some adventure." Lauren mentioned, just before Missy exited her house. Missy then looked down with pride at the girl in her arms.
"Oh, she's like me in that sense. Well, best be off, the Doctor hates lingering. See you soon, humans." She left the house, heading down the garden pathway back to the TARDIS. And as the blue box dematerialised, Lauren turned to her friend, only to see them conked out on the sofa and finally asleep. She breathed a sigh of relief before going to bed.