Chapter Text
August 29, 1966
Screams from 25,000 people rang in the Doctor’s ears with such force it was as though the sound waves had coalesced into a physical wall that pressed against him from every side. The air was barely breathable through the smells of sweat, urine, and several different perfumes that had definitely gone off a few hours ago. So hot that sweat dripped down his back under his jacket, the Doctor turned, pushing against the mass of human bodies around him, but sound filled the space instead of air. He found it all very fitting. Perhaps too fitting now that he had been stunned and immobilized by the whole thing, but there was no escape now that he’d gotten here. He would have to simply survive.
Sometime, the Doctor thought he should learn to not execute every plan that popped into his head, even if that plan seemed very fitting for his current situation and mood. Putting off his own farewell tour to watch The Beatles’ final public performance was so devastatingly typical of him, he felt like he’d somehow called himself out. Fortunately, he couldn’t hear himself through the wall of sound. That itself was a relief. Plus, if he squinted, he could make out that there were four human-shaped beings on the stage. All playing their instruments very dutifully in spite of fact that no one would be able to hear a single note that they played. The Doctor had to wonder which moment had made The Beatles realize that they could no longer continue if this was the result. Was it the screams or the ringing silence that he knew would follow? Was it the realization that in spite of their best efforts, they were no longer fulfilling their passion, but simply miming it on a stage for an audience that didn’t care about the results?
Whatever moment had happened for them, the Doctor felt it burning in his soul until tears stung his eyes. How long had he been playing his own songs to a screaming crowd? And the Doctor was pretty sure that his audience wasn’t screaming with excitement.
Perhaps it really was time for his farewell tour.