Fobwatch Fic
| Tropes and genres | |
|---|---|
| Synonym(s) | Fobbed, Chameleon Arch fic |
| See also | Doctor Who |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
This article or section needs expansion. |
Fobwatch fics employ a AU scenario that originated in the Doctor Who episode, "Family of the Blood". In this episode, the Doctor uses a Chameleon Arch to change their biology, essentially turning the Timelord human, while their original memories are stored in a fobwatch. The Doctor's memories and Timelord biology are only restored when the fobwatch is opened.
Works employing this trope are rarely episode tags. Instead authors create scenarios where the Doctor, or another Timelord, must use the chameleon arch to become human. Often same actor characters are used for the Fobbed!Timelords human identity. For example fobbed!Tenth Doctor works could disguise Ten as Alex Hardy, David Tennant's character from TV series Broadchurch. In this way, a fobwatch fic can resemble a Human AU and crossover fic.
In other cases, the Fobbed!Timelords human alias may be based on a name they've used in canon or in para-canonical stories.
There are also examples of works where existing human companions are revealed to be fobbed!Timelords, allowing these character to gain a Timelords regenerative ability once the watch is opened.
Example Fanworks
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fanfiction
- so you aren't as human as you thought you were, aka the Tupperware AU, or Tups AU, by timeisweird (WIP)
- How Martha Jones Saved the World and Lucy Saxon Initiated Divorce Proceedings With Extreme Prejudice by LizBee, Entirely AU conclusion to "The Sound of Drums", in which companions come to the rescue, UNIT blows stuff up and Lucy Saxon's pocket-watch is opened.
Archives & Fannish Links
- Fobbed Reclist at DoctorRose Fic Rec Lists on TImblr
- Fobwatch (Doctor Who) and Chameleon Arch (Doctor Who) works on Ao3