[ River Song. That voice, the one that haunts him, that's driven him mad, that's thrilled him, that's held back the dark at times. Oh, but there's nothing really to keep the madness away completely, is there? Just a respite now and then, and River was. She was. She is. She was...the days that never came.

Floating in and out of one another's lives, on an inevitable collision course to an inescapable ending, one he never failed to delay whenever possible. He knew where they were going, he always knew, and he always ran. Eventually, time would run out. River would be just a memory. It had been so long, he'd started to think maybe she was. Would that be a mercy? Selfishly...yes.

Cruel and kind, whatever brought them here.

As always with the Doctor, whatever melancholy swirls around in his hearts, he doesn't show it, doesn't let on. A smile, a tease, the easy way they have with one another. ]

No, no, what was I thinking? Matches my eyes far better. And you — [ He takes a step back, framing her features with his free hand. Then he wrinkles his nose a bit. ]

They haven't done you any favors with this uniform. [ Charming, as ever, right? ]