Hi and welcome to our (yes, I'm teaming up with TraditionalGaily again)Doctor Who Advent Calender.
This story is part of the Secrets-Series but if you haven't read any of the previous stories, don't worry, it is self-explanatory.
Each day there will be a new chapter exploring the bizarre friendship Theta and Koschei are tangled in.
Feel free to leave a comment! Suggestions, too!

The Doctor's eyebrows knitted in bewilderment.
"Blimey…what's that supposed to mean?" he mumbled, scratching his head worriedly as he stared at the outstretched corridor in front of him. He glanced at the smudgy circular writing the first of the 25 doors presented itself with.

Prior to this the Doctor had been joyfully navigating his TARDIS into what turned out to be a cardiac solar flare, a light-storm so enriched by trans-matter, time eons and pure energy that didn't just left a dent in the TARDIS' varnish but took it right off.
There had been alarms, lights and sirens so disturbingly screaming with rage and despair. Small sparks had singed the Doctor's hair as part of his controls imploded.
And then his ship had fallen silent.

The Doctor, covered in plaster and a sticky orange slime of unknown origin, had crawled out from his hiding place beneath his keyboard and stared disbelievingly at the monitor which claimed that everything was back to normal.
And it wasn't just the fact that his screwdriver was missing…

Something had called the Doctor.
Beckoned him.
He felt an irresistible urge to check on his wardrobe in sub-basement five.
And here he was now, staring at an assemblage of doors where his coat hangers should have been.
He read the first door's sign with his lips moving soundlessly.
It just stated what was obvious.
The 1st.
But the first of what? he wondered.

So, being the inquisitive Doctor he couldn't help being, he pushed open the door.
And was met by grey nothingness.

There was fog with thin strands of mist whirling to and fro, contorting into obscure shapes before slowly melding into the background.
He reached out, gingerly trying to touch it. It stung, its iciness pricking his fingers.
A bitter coldness clung to the room. And it smelled of…

"Peppermint?" the Doctor wondered while sniffing, "Peppermint…with a hint of caramel?"
It had always smelled of Peppermint-toffees in Koschei's kitchen.

Theta stared at the giant tiles, expanding into nothingness in front of him, with their neat black and white pattern. And his face mirrored in every spotless dark tile.
Then his gaze rose, his eyes refusing to take in the enormous windows disappearing into dwindling heights. The bright golden light that illuminated the windowsill…the countless shelves…

"Perfectly circular," Koschei remarked as he stared at his gawping friend. The perfect "o", Theta's lips had until now formed, vanished as he folded his arms.
"Jealous?" asked Koschei; he couldn't bite back a chuckle as Theta narrowed his eyes at him.
"No," lied Theta, "I'm just…appalled due to the lavish lifestyle this household displays."
Koschei nodded. "So you admit being jealous," he concluded.
Theta folded his arms in front of his chest. "Was this why you asked me to spend the holiday with you?"
Theta snorted, "For showing off? To rub it all in? 'Ew, look, my parents are so posh they got their own private water supply, so they are not forced to drink the same tab water as ordinary people.'"
"It's not our fault that there's subterranean water beneath our land, is it?" asked Koschei while grabbing the step-ladder and dragging it over to a shelf.
"It's just typical," growled Theta.
"So you're jealous of our water too?" Koschei asked mockingly as he climbed the steps.
"Just shut up," snapped Theta, "And what are you doing up there?"
"Oh, nothing," replied Koschei dismissively, "Posh things you wouldn't understand."

Accompanied by Theta's quietly mumbled curses Koschei rummaged through the remains of old jars and china. His smirk broadened as he discovered a tasteless art deco tin box. Proudly he presented it to Theta
"Guess what's inside?" he added. Theta cocked an eyebrow at him. "Diamonds? Your mother's jewellery?"
Koschei removed the lid.
A sticky fragrance filled the air.
"Peppermint?" asked Theta, moving closer as Koschei descended.
"Peppermint-toffees," explained Koschei, "Try one."
"Your mother's?" Theta hazarded as he helped himself to a sweet.
"Our cook's," replied Koschei, "I wouldn't touch anything my mother cooked unless it's been approved of by the food-taster."
"You have a food-taster too?" asked Theta, his shoulders sagging with unimportance again.
"No," Koschei chuckled, "But I'd have to get one if she takes to it."

Theta savoured the taste quietly. After a while he shot Koschei a scrutinizing glare.
"It's not poisoned, is it?" he asked disapprovingly. Koschei shook his head.
Silence followed as Theta chewed.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked while he licked at the delicious remains still sticking to his fingers.
"Doing what?" Koschei replied while reaching for another toffee.
"You make fun of me, you carpet me and the next moment you're offering me a treat. Why are you doing this?" Theta repeated. "I just don't understand you."

Koschei smirked at his remark. Nonchalantly he explained: "Stick and carrot. Or in your case emotional hurt and toffee."
"So you're trying to train me?" Theta concluded, "Why?"
"Just to see whether it can be achieved," Koschei replied.
"I'll never get a straight answer out of you," Theta replied, sighing in annoyance.
"That depends," Koschei replied, "Whether you ask one."