Doctor Who Ficlet: Regeneration

[bk_forever]

Title: Regeneration

Fandom: Doctor Who

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: The Doctor

Rating: G

Word Count: 250

Spoilers: Nothing specific, as long as you know the Doctor periodically regenerates into another incarnation.

Summary: The Doctor muses on his regenerations.

Written For: Challenge #93: Amnesty at fan_flashworks, using Challenge #61: Transformation.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters.

A/N: This one’s in honour of the new Doctor, even though I don’t know yet if I’m going to like him…

It’s never just a change of face and body. Even though he’s still essentially the same person as before, he’s also completely different. Sometimes older, sometimes younger, different hair, teeth, eyes… personality. That was always the stickiest part; what sort of person was he going to be? Which of the many facets of his character would be at the forefront this time? Would he be happy-go-lucky? Moody? Sardonic? Eccentric? Dangerous? He could never be sure. New bodies were fairly straightforward to get used to, rediscovering his sense of balance, testing how his new limbs moved, seeing his new face in the mirror. A new personality required more complex psychological adjustments. He’d discovered that he didn’t always particularly like himself. Not right away.

Even so, the people his transformations were hardest on were his companions, left trying to figure out how to relate to a friend who has changed almost beyond recognition. He wished he could do more to help them adjust, but he was always in the same boat, so to speak; too busy trying to figure himself out to give them the attention they deserved.

Oh well. They all usually got things straight in the end. So did he, for that matter. He’d regenerated often enough that he ought to be used to it by now; it was just always so unsettling, disorienting. But it was kind of exciting too. Who would he be this time around? Regeneration was starting; he wouldn’t have to wait long to find out!

The End

Comments

[bluelilacs.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine what it would be like to have to get to know yourself all over again. How confusing would that be!

[bk_forever]

I know! It's such a bizarre situation to be in. He'll adjust eventually.

Thank you.

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

I feel for the doctor, his regenerations are in fact one of the hardest things he has to go through.

great drabble.

[bk_forever]

You'd think they would make him more sympathetic to Jack's plight, wouldn't you? Jack goes something similar, but far more frequently and while Jack always comes back the same and knowing who he is, unlike the Doctor, I suspect he suffers greater physical pain than the Doctor does.

Thank you!

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

It must be weird, and awful, to know you are going to wake up and not know yourself. Not just the face, that's bad enough, but a complete personality change too.

I quite like the new Doctor, I think. Although he is very different. Seems to be a bit more like the old era Doctors. He has a bit of a darker edge than the last two. Should prove interesting.
I like that they mentioned that he thought he had seen his face before. I wonder if they are going to go anywhere with that, or just use that one comment as a way to placate the fans and get away with re-using an actor.

[bk_forever]

As I understand it, Stephen Moffatt has a reason all worked out for why the Doctor has that particular face, so presumably we'll find out at some point.

I think the new Doctor is okay, at least he doesn't sound like Frobisher. I'm adjusting, though I miss Eleven. Twelve is a grumpy Doctor as well as being darker. Moody.

It really must be weird waking up, knowing WHO you are but having no idea what you're like and having to get used to this whole new person. I've written a piece for one of the prompt communities I mentioned, which kind of looks at the brighter side. I'll put it up here at some point.

Thank you!