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[Several hours after his apparently miraculous resurrection, Joscelin Fitzthomas opens the video link. He looks shellshocked and confused. But he also looks different. Even as washed out as he is by the video feed, his face is not quite as pale as before, and there is actual color in his cheeks that make his freckles (which also suddenly seem more numerous than there had been) stand out even more.

When he speaks, his voice is quiet and subdued, with none of his usual sarcastic swagger.]

It would appear that I troubled many of you during the mission. For that, I am sorry.

Romeo and I caught a saboteur in the act, and that person reacted by shooting at us. I took the bullet—or bolt, I suppose; how does one classify science fiction weapons?—for Romeo. At any rate, I was under the impression that I had been wounded, but I have since been disabused of that notion and it now appears that I spent the last several days dead, somehow. Tony Stark had my ashes and personal effects in his room. I...

[He seems to realize he’s rambling and cuts himself off.]

Since then, Romeo has vanished.

[His voice breaks.]

I came to bundled away in a suitcase earlier today, so please—help me by checking the baggage car regularly. Maybe Romeo needs help extricating himself from a piece of luggage. Romeo is the very best of us and I beg you all to help me find him and keep him safe. Please.

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[ The Doctor's eyes narrow sharply when she mentions a sacrifice. He doesn't like the sound of that in the slightest. Soul for a soul. Not if he can help it. ]

Let me go ahead and clarify for you-No one is going to be a sacrifice if I can help it. Not for any reason. No matter what.

[ There's a sharp edge in his voice before it returns to the normal, friendly tone he normally has. ]

23.5868 kilograms, 122.2248 centimeters. Severely Malnourished-yes, the sonic picked up on that too-I'm thinking some nice soothing vegetable soups just so you don't split the lining of your stomach-yes, that can happen. So we're gonna go with no solid foods until you've gained... oooh 5 more kilograms but we'll play that by ear.

[The Plague. Joss had almost forgotten about it. He looks startled, then feels the scar in his armpit that he’d complete forgotten avoid it. Ill effects?]

We called it the Great Mortality. It killed me. I died from it. The vampire who was my sire turned me, but she didn’t kill me. She let nature take its course. I...don’t really remember it. I think I was unconscious in the hours before I died.

I woke up in a mass grave. I suppose I’ll take waking up in a suitcase over experiencing that again.

[He’s happy when the Doctor changes the subject, though he looks rather dismayed at the menu.]

I can’t have sweets?

[ At the Doctor's sharp rebuke, Wen Qing narrows her eyes at him. There is something venomous in the glare she shoots him but she keeps quiet, though her lips are tightly pursed in displeasure. If she is going to expound on that, or clarify what she means, though it's quite clear in her opinion, then she will be bound to upset her patient.

After all, if he has been brought back in the same way it is done in her world, then the sacrifice has already happened and Joss being back is the result of it... Definitely not something to discuss further in front of her child patient.

She nods at Joss's explanation, her gaze softening again. She's still terribly curious about the exact circumstances of him waking up but that, too, is probably left for better circumstances. Gruff bedside manner she may have but she isn't wholly without tact. ]

You will want to get your stomach slowly used to solids again. But since my colleague has so kindly taken care of the measurements already [ Oh yes, she's still annoyed about that rebuke. ] you can get dressed now. [ She sizes him up. ] To the best I can tell, you are a perfectly normal human, if a sickly one. [ She meets his eyes solemnly. ] But you knew that already, didn't you? You were just hoping for me to prove your fears wrong.

You're welcome. [ Either he didn't notice her annoyance or he's just antagonizing her. It's probably the former. ]

It is going to be a bit of an adjustment and don't worry, I'll be here to help if you need it. But you are Joss, you are, at this moment one hundred percent human. Any problems or complications just call for me-or Wen Qing.

Now, anything you want to take care of before we get you settled in for the night?

[Somehow being dressed down by Wen Qing feels worse than being lectured at by the Doctor. He shuffles awkwardly, eyes down, looking for all the world like a schoolboy being called up to the front of the class by a teacher. He nods, eyes still firmly on his shoes. His voice is barely above a whisper.]

I didn’t want it to be true.

[He doesn’t. He doesn’t want to be human. Being human terrifies him, even though it’s also something he’s longed for for centuries. He’s breakable now, weak and mortal. Before, Joss had assumed he would live to 1,000, forever unchanged. Now he’s going to grow up, grow old, and die.

And he’s scared shitless.

Slowly, he pulls his shirt and hoodie back on, covering up his bony frame in enough cloth to hide it somewhat. He’s noticed that since he woke up, he’s constantly very cold. Probably because he hasn’t got any body fat to keep him warm. He can’t help a small shiver.

He’s about to answer the Doctor when his stomach decides to do it for him, letting out an embarrassingly loud gurgle. He blushes (another thing he couldn’t do before).]

Er...I suppose dinner ought to happen. And I’d like to check in on my roommates, and Tony Stark. I gave them all a scare, and I’d rather not vanish for the night again without telling them.

[This? This newly considerate Joscelin Fitzthomas? That’s all Romeo. It’s all Romeo and Joss feels his absence so keenly he wants to cry again.]

[ She softens a little, her ire at the Doctor momentarily forgotten at the sight of this little boy struggling with an existential crisis. She may not be the most skilled at offering comfort but it doesn't mean she is without compassion. ]

Yes. Yes, you should have dinner now. [ Her voice is gentler, encouraging. She looks towards the Doctor. ] I believe you had dinner already planned, and have that well in hand.

[ Turning back to Joss, she gives a little firm nod. ] Listen to the Doctor now, and he will take good care of you. And if there's anything else you need, you can always call for me.

[ She goes over to grab her notes, since the medical car will be occupied she is going to continue reading in her cabin, an olive branch towards her colleague by not interfering overly with his patient. ] The same goes for you. If you get called away and need someone to sit with him...

[ There's a small pang in his hearts as he watches the young boy. ]

I know, this is all new to you again and it's okay if you're scared. You're allowed to feel those things. But you're not alone, okay? I can't speak for Wen Qing but I'm sure she'll agree-we're going to help you navigate this, okay? So you can be as mad or scared as you want. It's an upsetting change from what you're used to but you do have people on your side.

[ He says encouragingly. Kids are just his weakness even formally vampire kids. ]

Yes, well... [ He straightens back up. ] I better go and get that soup done up, hadn't I?

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