rec [fic]: Gearbox (The Won't Miss a Piece Remix) by neveralarch

[justmcshane]

This one's for the rec bingo (here's the card!) column four, row four prompt 'Frames/framing device/frame-up'

Title: Gearbox (The Won't Miss a Piece Remix) 

Creator: neveralarch

Rating: All Ages

Word Count/Length/Size: 6103

Creator's Summary: "How does the TARDIS work?” asks Ace. 

Characters/Pairings: Ace McShane, Barbara Wright, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Erimem, Hex Schofield, Ian Chesterton, Jamie McCrimmon, Mel Bush, Romana II, Susan Foreman, The Doctor (1st), The Doctor (2nd), The Doctor (3rd), The Doctor (4th), The Doctor (5th), The Doctor (6th), The Doctor (7th)

Warnings/Notes: None

Reasons for reccing: The TARDIS is a ridiculous, wonderful place to live in, because -  at least according to this fic - it only works according to how its inhabitants think it should work. And I think that's wonderful. This fic is a gorgeous fluffy romp through the inner workings of the TARDIS, with flashback cameos from just about every Classic era Doctor. And of course, it's framed by the storylet of Ace adjusting to life in the TARDIS, and some lovely flashes of insight into her relationship with the Doctor. Plus, the humor in it is wonderful, and so is the characterization - there are some really good lines in there.

"Where are those snowshoes?" asks the Doctor, on another day. "We'll be landing any moment now."

 

"I've found five snowshoes, all different sizes, and half of a tire," says Ace. "Listen, do you ever clean this place?"

 

"No," says the Doctor. "The last time I did a bit of spring cleaning, they wanted me to actually get rid of the dust! Imagine, just throwing dust away, as if it were useless."

 

Ace's lips quirk, and the TARDIS stalls and her lights go out, one by one. Ace’s smile dims to match. The Doctor sighs and pulls open one of the bulkheads.

 

"What's happening?" asks Ace. "Need more gears?"

 

"The sparkplug's burnt out," mutters the Doctor. "Look."

 

Behind the bulkhead is a gap, half-filled with a tattered piece of molten rubber. The Doctor prods it, gently, and the rubber crumbles into ash. Beyond it is a seething hole of electricity, sparks jumping in and out, beginning to escape.

 

"I've seen sparkplugs before," says Ace. "That's not a sparkplug."

 

"Correct," says the Doctor. "It is a pile of ash. But it did used to be a sparkplug."

Link: https://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=46677