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Tweak says, "A nice cup of steamy hot tea"

rose tyler is fantastic. (badwulf) wrote in territories_log,
@ 2022-08-06 01:49:00

thread | AUGUST 5TH

ROSE & THE DOCTOR

august 5th. | g. | the tardis.

"She'd love to see you. So would I."

It hadn't been so long ago. Or had it?

Following their exchange, Rose took a day to pick herself up and wrestle her courage to pay him that visit. When had she gone so yellow, again? Oh, right. When her best friend said he went and changed his face not once, but twice, to keep on living. When she was smack dab with the inevitable that, one way or another, she was gonna be cut from this fantastical equation. So very human, her. Rose Tyler hadn't much of anything to be ashamed of when it came to her humanity, but it could be an inconvenient reminder. A unavoidable fragility that would call it quits before she did, if she had anything to say about it. Someday—

Well, here it was, more or less. Something must've happened to her, she reasoned. Perhaps even sooner rather than later, depending on when he came from. They'd been brilliant. Past tense.

And what about it? What about the only him she'd—thus far—known? She thought of Satellite 5, of the Daleks and the possibility that one of those regenerations was a product of it. Rose had been desperate to cross the two hundred thousand year gap to get back to him. She remembered a light, the haunt of a melody. She recalled, however vague, hearing him, feeling him, before the hum of the TARDIS surrounded her. After that? The Moya.

Wrapped up with anxiousness, her gut a knot of questions, she neared the familiar blue doors. Hesitance, she hated it, stayed her hand.

And then she knocked.

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tumblingnebulas
2022-08-06 11:26 pm UTC (link)

Rose Tyler. How long had it been since he'd seen her, now? How long since she'd seen him? Leather jacket and too big ears, that's how she'd described him. A lifetime ago, that. The TARDIS understood, and despite her own changes, she remembered. She remembered Rose well. He placed a hand beside the door, stroking softly, once. "I've missed her, too."

Missing her didn't mean he knew yet just how he would explain all of this to her. It was so much easier to just see it. But that wasn't in the cards, thank you very much. He'd just have to help her understand some other way. And to explain that other pesky little detail about another reality. It wasn't like he'd replaced her, though. These things happened completely outside of his control. And she'd even said it! He shouldn't be alone. She sounded a lot like Amy when she spoke that way.

Amy. Amy, Amy...and time. All a bit muddled here. Seemed to be going in the right order. The right order for this place, anyway. He didn't fancy it much. He'd been working on it though. Running tests, checking computations. So far all he'd managed to do was mildly insult Moya. Oops. Progress? Definitely, he decided.

When Rose knocked, he adjusted his bow tie habitually before opening the door, a wide smile on his face. "Hello."

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badwulf
2022-08-07 02:04 am UTC (link)

Felt odd, asking. The TARDIS had been her home, the key was still snug, heavier than ever, in the pocket of her jeans. Rose had arrived through those doors, but they were different now. Further testament before the rest of it greeted her, all tweed and smiles and, yeah, a considerable amount of chin. Well, how could she not? Tongue somewhere in her cheek, her lips curved something as pale as it was the start of something promising.

"Hey."

She wasn't thinking in too long years preceded by a painful separation. Technically, it'd just been days since the all ears him. This boyish shape before her now is definitely a far cry, but the hints were there, if you knew where to look. Rose does. The youth of his jubilant gaze did little to smother the age, the burdens, the echo of all she'd ever known. However rattled, she knew in that instant that she wouldn't be grasping for what wasn't there, and it smoothed the edge a bit. Made the doe shape of her eyes go glassy for an entirely new reason as they, briefly, went over his shoulder to look beyond. Then he filled her vision again and, fondly, her words hitched a little.

"Nice hair."

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tumblingnebulas
2022-08-07 02:52 am UTC (link)

The smile on his face widened exponentially when she commented on his hair. Somehow, in that simple statement he felt like perhaps all was forgiven. Even the all she didn't know about yet. Which made no sense whatsoever, he knew. But maybe that was just the guilt talking. He didn't need any more of that, thank you very much.

He pulled the door oepn wider, shifting in such a way that she could see inside, a silent invitation. It looked very different to what she remembered, he knew that much. The key he knew she had somewhere in her possession wouldn't fit the lock, but that was a minor detail. He could give her another. If she wanted it. He tugged on the ends of the hair at the nape of his neck with an amused little chuckle. "Bit different to before, 'ey?" He'd thought in those first few minutes, briefly, that he'd been a girl. But no. Just fantastic hair. "I like it."

But that wasn't what she was really interested in, surely. Reaching out, he took hold of her hand, tugging her through the door and a few steps inside. "Come on then. Don't keep her waiting."

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badwulf
2022-08-07 05:03 am UTC (link)

As much as she quietly held onto what had been, what still was, at least somewhere, Rose liked it too. It showed in the flash of smiling teeth, the way her hand fit effortlessly into his, as if nothing had changed. More comfort. For all that was new, the warmth and reassurance of his grasp wasn't.

"You're all limbs," Rose studied, humored, as she followed his insistence. Much like the fingers she still clung to, the TARDIS didn't disappoint either, despite the change all around her. It was so vibrant compared to what she'd been used to, more hectic and going every which way, but the atmosphere settled over her like a friend. She said nothing for a moment, only took it in, recollecting and watching ghosts only she could see, before tilting her attention back to him. "Not bad. A little busy, but it could be worse."

Cheeky. Whether she meant him or the TARDIS, or both, who could say.

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tumblingnebulas
2022-08-07 10:34 am UTC (link)

Her obvservation humoured him greatly, and he smiled to himself as he proceeded her to the console. "Helps with the dancing." He flipped one of the switches beside him, not for any particular reason. Just because he could, mostly. A clanging sound echoed away from them as a result.

"Busy!" His tone was incredulous but not lacking in mirth as he moved around the console, continuing to fiddle with things as he did. "Busy, she says. Rose Tyler, you have no appreciation for good interior design. I read an article that told me all about maximising small spaces," he added with an air of complete sincerity, flopping into the chair to his right. There was something so strange, having her standing there again. Calm as you please in the TARDIS. Not bad strange, per se. Just...strange. It had been so, so long for him. But that didn't mean he didn't remember that time vividly. He always remembered, whether he wanted to or not.

"So," he asked, making eye contact again. "Last thing that happened to you before you got here. Go." It was before his regeneration, that much was clear. But how long before? He had some theories, and he wouldn't have minded having them confirmed.

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badwulf
2022-08-08 03:55 am UTC (link)

He was practically dancing now. The Doctor had always seemed close to tipping with all that energy, but it was especially apparent in this incarnation. Like he might just burst with it. Rose watched as she stepped up to the console proper, hello old girl, the motion of his bounce and flourish almost but not quite as she recalled. Gingerly passing over the various buttons, knobs, and whatchamacallits, she followed his route with a breath of laughter. The more things change, the more they stay the same. It was a comforting thought as her emotions pitched and fumbled, pace halting a few short spaces nearby.

"Tried to get back," she said, tucking her hair. The levity slipped, smile gone for a worry of her bottom lip. "You sent me home, said you were gonna die."

Rose's watery gaze spilled over, but it didn't waver, didn't shy or turn as she steadied before him, a hand on the railing. "How could you? Leaving me with that! Thinking I could carry on—" A hiccup, palm covering the trembling shape of her mouth. She wanted to be furious, but all she felt was the heave of a good cry. New package, but he was whole and here and it was enough. "I saw a light, and I swore you were there," she warbled. "But I can't remember."

Ruddy cheeks were wiped, breath stuttering.

"Then I woke up to all this."

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tumblingnebulas
2022-08-08 09:00 am UTC (link)

The way she'd followed him around the console was so familiar. So reminiscent of all those times they'd spent together. He'd have to keep reminding himself she hadn't lived a whole lot of that. All those complicated feelings they'd had. All those things, said and done.

He hadn't expected his question to get such an immediate reaction. And now she was going and doing it. That complicated human thing where they got all wibbly and started crying. He bounced back to his feet, watching her carefully and waiting for an opening. Maybe she'd - oh, there it was. Anger. That was at least easier to deal with. Less fun than denial, though. It didn't last long, though, and she fell right back into the tears. He hated seeing her cry, always had. He remembered that much with startling clarity and apparently nothing changed.

"I'm sorry Rose," he finally responded when she took a breath to wipe the tears from her face. "I was only doing what I thought was best. Even I muck that up a bit sometimes." He'd allow that much for her. They had certain privileges, she and Amy. They were firsts.

"But look!" He held out his arms to demonstrate. "I didn't die. Here I am, back for another adventure to bother you all over again." He took a deliberate step closer, and then another, tilting his head as he watched her. "Amy usually growls a bit and then we hug. What do you say?"

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badwulf
2022-08-08 10:26 am UTC (link)

It was a lot—new catchphrase, that. But he'd been right when he said she could handle it, however tentative her grip felt. Unsurprisingly, he looked a bit put out by the blubber of commotion, but Rose wouldn't begrudge herself this. She deserved plenty more and, even as bite and fluster started to dull, she at least acknowledged it. Didn't suffer a twinge of guilt as the Doctor moved to placate. Would've been easy, though. This new face of his, all sweet and apologetic, could've certainly inspired her.

Very dangerous.

Fixing him with a still wet stare, Rose swallowed around the lump in her throat. Didn't ask after Amy despite the way it nagged, didn't crumple into his offering arms despite how tempting it was. Hugs, she could've done with a few. "You said there were things we hadn't done," she said after a pause. "But what about all this? Me, here, now. He's by himself, ain't he?" Lashes clumped with wet mascara briefly fell, the line of her lips thinning. "You. You're out there right now with no one while I'm stuck on some ship."

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tumblingnebulas
2022-08-08 10:39 am UTC (link)

"I don't think that's how it works, Rose." His tone was softer now, gentler. A little more patient in the face of her obvious frustration. He wasn't trying to upset her, certainly. Knew not a lot could fix this right now, short of having that former grumpy face of his show up and reassure her.

"As far as I can tell," and it was all guesses at this point but that was neither here nor there, "things are carrying on as normal. We might as well still be there, you and I." Her, meeting him all over again. Him...well, that was a bit complicated wasn't it? Time stood still and River Song determined to let it.

"If I could make this make sense for you I would. But it's still me, I promise." He took another step closer, bending forward slightly as though to let her see his face better. "And you know me. I only lie about the things I really have to."

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badwulf
2022-08-08 11:55 am UTC (link)

"I know," she reassured in kind. "It's you, you nutty old man."

Rose felt exhausted all of a sudden, and probably looked as much, but she smiled regardless. A weak little something that was as much for herself as him. He did lie, and he occasionally did it well, but she took him for his word all the same. Gave him the benefit and hoped he was right, because what else could she hold onto? Maybe she clung a bit too eagerly to his consolation. Maybe, for better or worse, she'd long put him on a high enough pedestal that it wasn't quite so difficult to, whatever face he might be wearing. There were still too many stars in her eyes.

She regarded him, weeping going dry. Gave the railing her hand was still clutched to a squeeze before, just as quickly as the tears, she pushed into him. Tucked her chin over his bony shoulder and wrapped him up tight, shutting out the glow of the TARDIS with one messy nuzzle into his coat.

( Big apologies for the repost, I desperately needed to edit. )

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tumblingnebulas
2022-08-11 09:23 am UTC (link)

Nutty old man, madman. Either way. Given he'd used the descriptor himself more than once, he'd take it.

He recognised the blind faith in Rose for what it was. Had seen the same in Amy. In so many of them, over the years. Dangerous, that's what it was. But that didn't stop him doing nothing about it. Nutty old man, she'd called him. Nutty and vain, that was him. And look just where that had left so many of them.

But that wasn't for thinking about right now (if ever). Right now was about Rose, and helping her feel a bit less adrift about this whole thing, even if she was placing blind faith in his vague assurances.

When she seemed to be done with being a bit stubborn and brave and clung to him, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She didn't say anything and neither did he at first, managing to stay silent for at least a couple of minutes. That wasn't bad for him, really. It had been so long since he'd seen her, and guilt aside, he was able to glean some comfort from the moment himself. "We'll figure this out." It was just going to take time, apparently. Patience. His favourite game.

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