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Tweak says, "Sanity is overrated."

Rose M. Tyler (jeopardysfriend) wrote in vas_captio_rpg,
@ 2009-07-21 00:06:00

Entry tags:

!complete, day 16, location: carnival, rose tyler, the doctor (ten)

Who: John 'The Tenth Doctor' Smith and Rose 'Not As Oblivious As I Look' Tyler
What: Probably? Keeping Rose out of trouble...
Where: The Carnival
When: Day 16, afternoonish
Rating: PG
Status: Complete!

It was rather irritating being told what to do. But honestly? Rose was used to it. The Doctor had a knack for telling her where to be and when to be there, and she was pretty good at following directions. Mostly because, with him, if she didn't it was life or death. So when Dr. John Smith told her to get to the gas station to seek out food, she listened. Also sort of life and death. Starving and all.

But Rose was also known for her exploratory nature getting the better of her. She was good at it, frankly. It usually got her into trouble before it got her out of it, but she often got answers because of it, too. And it was only her first real day in this strange new city. The day before had been spent with Dr. Smartass and then finding Remy and the Doctor and being introduced around. She never had claimed her grand tour with Remy, but she was honestly just as happy to do it herself.

And honestly, who wasn't attracted to a giant ferris wheel in the middle of nowhere?

Though the map said to go to the left, Rose followed the trail to the right, arriving in front of what was apparently a long abandoned carnival. But even if nothing worked, what girl wasn't drawn to the carousel and the ferris wheel and...oh god, was that a tunnel of love? Rose couldn't help giggling. Even if there was something seriously messed up about this place, it pulled her in just the same.

Gas station? What gas station?

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fromgallifrey
2009-07-28 03:00 pm UTC (link)

She'd caught him. He could tell by the look on her face that she'd seen his expression and on some level she must have interpretted it, right? She must have seen right through him. The Doctor swallowed. Hard.

It didn't h elp that she'd turned all quiet. It only made the Doctor want to start rambling. So, ramble he did. "I think I heard somewhere you've already been to the thrift store, so no need to stop there. Though, I did find the most curious set of candy dishes. What do you think anybody'd want with those here? I could at least make something out of the broken radios if I needed to, though the wiring is sort of shoddy.." He trailed off, realizing he'd spoken nearly over her.

"Oh, i just think it's a bit strange calling him 'the Doctor.' Afterall, I'm a Doctor, too," John Smith covered. Actually, he was the Doctor, too. Sort of like if Rose met someone else named Rose, it'd be sort of odd calling them that, wouldn't it? "Not technically yours?" He quirked a brow. Oh, he was your Doctor, Rose Tyler, and you'd never know. Well, he wasn't quite yet. Oh, wibble wobble timey whimey, big ball of stuff that goes beep.

The Time Lord looked at the ground. Oh, look a rock. His hands were in his pockets as they walked, he kept meaning to put things in there so he could have soemthing to play around with. Maybe he could put a few pencils together and fashion something that felt like his sonic. It would make him feel a bit more comfortable, he thought.

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jeopardysfriend
2009-07-28 05:21 pm UTC (link)

Was he rambling? Really? He seemed so refined and distinguished. Like a university professor, in all fairness. So why did he seem so...lost. Rose supposed they all felt a bit lost there. Out of their elements. Even the Doctor, so used to all things strange and paranormal, seemed disconcerted in this odd place.

While she considered the bit he'd added about having to call another doctor 'Doctor', she focused on the candy dishes. "Just because I've already been doesn't mean I wouldn't go again," she thought out loud. "I like it in there. Bit dusty, terribly damp, but it's fun. Out of the way, you know?" Maybe he didn't know. Maybe he hadn't felt the need to escape into something that at least felt somewhat familiar.

Candy dishes? Why in God's name had he picked out candy dishes of everything in there? Rose was pretty certain until the moment they got out of this place that Dr. John Smith, man of science, short-strawed doctor of the Smithton Smiths, would remain an enigma. Shame, that. He was fit, and awfully cute when he smiled.

"In a hospital, all the doctors are going around calling each other doctor and it doesn't seem to bother them," she pointed out, changing her focus. "And there were like, five Matts in my class in school and they didn't come up with titles or names for each other or anything. They were just Matt G, Matt C, and on and on." There. Complete subject change. But not so complete he wouldn't have further reason to point out why he was so insistent to make the Doctor her own.

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fromgallifrey
2009-07-28 06:03 pm UTC (link)

Of course he was rambling. You haven't even experienced the full force of it yet, Rose. Wait until a little later, when you're out of here and he's going on about Barcelona and hopping for your lives - then you'll see just how much this man can ramble. Though, she was quite on with the idea he was lost - because that was a bit how he felt. He was lost around this girl whom he knew so well, yet wasn't supposed to know at all. It was enough to throw the good Doctor right off his balance.

The Doctor was escaping into something familiar, Rose and that something was you. So, when you put it that way, he understood completely. Totally and unequivocably. "Well, we can stop there, if you'd like..." He looked up, a smile clinging at the edges of his features. They could, really. The could go there. He knew he shouldn't have asked. It was a bad decision; but, again it wasn't like he could just take her back, push her into the Museum and lock the door. At least when she was with him she was safe.

"Of coure they are, it's a title and not their names. 'Til he showed up here I was the Doctor. It's what I am at home. They just call me Doctor. Just one of me, afterall. It's like my name," it was his name. "Not like we both can be the Doctor, can we? And since I'm not your Doctor, might as well make him yours, yes?" Careful with the rambling, John.

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jeopardysfriend
2009-07-28 07:11 pm UTC (link)

Rose's head tilted thoughtfully. It might have made sense to him, but the girl was completely and utterly confused. What the hell was he on about? "They just call you Doctor?" she pondered, almost as much to herself as to him. There were so many pieces of the puzzle that was John Smith that were wide and gaping. Much like the pieces of her own life. Ordinarily, her life was so simple. Get in TARDIS, be delivered at destination, inevitably almost get killed, get out of danger, hug the Doctor in celebration of actually surviving, get back in the TARDIS, repeat until time to head home for a fresh lot of clothes. Here, nothing seemed that simple. Everything seemed new and strange and confusing. Mostly confusing.

"We don't have to," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes. "The thrift store, I mean. Already been once today. Only so many times one person can look at bell bottoms and platform shoes."

Hesitantly, she glanced up at him. "Suppose you're right. About him, I guess. Still not really mine. Trust me, he was the Doctor long before he met me." Hundreds of years, as best as she could tell. "Neither of you has to be. Doesn't really make a lot of sense." Neither was she, as best she could tell. Making any sense that was. Somehow, this tall, rail thin bloke had that ability to him. To make her babble nonsensically. Not in writing; in writing, they could go on and on and she could figure out what she wanted to say and tease him until he was teasing right back. But here? In person? It was odd.

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fromgallifrey
2009-07-29 03:16 pm UTC (link)

As her head tilted and a look of confusion passed over her features the Doctor worried for a oment that he'd said too much. "Most of them, just call me Doctor. Or Doc. Never much cared for Doc, actually." Sorry, Rose, it was all on purpose. Well, most of it, because he hadn't meant to blurt some of the things he'd said. Most of all he didn't really mean to leave you little bits and clues, he just thought he was being clever. Well, that and he couldn't just out and out lie to you. Where was a chameleon arch when you needed one?

"Oh, well, then the museum, yes?" he was already shifting their course. She didn't want to go? Well, that was fine. Probably for the best, actually. The less time they spent the less clues he left the less she could really work to figure out who he really was. Keep up the good work, Mr. Smith.

When she said neither of them had to be the Doctor looked at his shoes. He'd been your Doctor once, Rose Tyler. He'd be your Doctor now if he could. That same silly bloke who went running 'round in circles showing you the time of your life and saving you from threats you could hardly imagine. Sorry, Rose, sooner or later one of them would have to be your Doctor, just the way it worked. Unfortunately, Ten was pretty sure it couldn't be him. Not yet, anyway.

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jeopardysfriend
2009-07-29 03:29 pm UTC (link)

Leave bits and pieces he had. Dozens of them, though Rose didn't quite know it just then. Things were beginning to come together in her mind, but she couldn't quite grasp it. And she never would have picked up the almost-obvious from the tiny fragments Dr. John Smith had scattered all around her.

"Not an awful lot else to do here, is there?" she reminded him, a slightly playful look on her face. "Besides, someone needs to get there in time to stop the Doctor from trying to put together a sonic...I don't know, picture frame. Silly nut."

But she loved that silly nut. She loved him for a lot of the same reasons she already trusted the man at her side so much. There was a childlike appeal to him, despite the advanced age. He was protective of her, taking care of her without her ever having to ask. They butted heads, but at the end of the day, she knew he still cared. The worst fight they'd ever had still had him coming back to her. He was wonderful, and it explained the instant pull to the coat-wearing man beside her. Any similarities to the man who'd shown her the galaxy pretty much guaranteed him a spot in her heart.

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fromgallifrey
2009-07-30 06:57 pm UTC (link)

It was like the Doctor was a third grader in Saint Sebastian's Elementary school. He was a very clever third grader who had decided he'd see just how long he could balance all of his pencils on end and then stack all of his text books on top of that and then sing Ring Around the Rosy until the teacher caught him, sent all of his books falling to the floor, called the principle and had him wind up trying to repair the broken strands of space and time with a piece of gum and a smile.

Sure, some of his giveaways were nearly intentional, others not so much. Other's, well, they just slipped out. So, when she mentioned Nine putting together a sonic something or other he smiled. He was building a sonic modulator, Rose. That's what he'd been doing since his third day here. Sure, it'd been crushed and he'd have to start over; but, you were right about him and his infatuation with Sonic powered things.

"Ah, well, he'd said he was going to help me with my modulator anyway; it's sonic. Well, in the way that it exudes sound waves. Should be able to shatter the glass if we manage to get the frequency just so."

So, he was turning in the direction of the museum, wouldn't be too long now until she was back with her proper Doctor and away from the man who wasn't quite the Doctor she thought of.

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jeopardysfriend
2009-07-30 07:13 pm UTC (link)

If he was accidentally-on-purpose dropping hints, he'd just thrown a rather large one at her. Rose's head shot up, her gaze moving immediately from the ground in front of her which she'd been staring at to the dark-haired man walking a pace or two in front of her. And then more paces in front of her because his words had caused her to pause in her steps and have to move at a half-jog to catch up.

"You know how to make a sonic...what was it? A modulator?" What the hell was a modulator? Worry about that later, Rose. First question, how did he know how to make a sonic anything? The science he did, was it some sort of physics? Had to be! The only two people in the world she knew who had sonic anythings were Jack and the Doctor. Their small war over 'whose was bigger' still rang through her mind, placing a small smile on her face.

"He could definitely help you," she pointed out, moving at a slightly faster pace now, excitement brimming through her. "It's practically a hobby for him. Does it in his spare time, when he's bored. Is that what you meant, you know, when you said the two of you would be getting us out of here?"

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fromgallifrey
2009-07-31 01:31 pm UTC (link)

He couldn't help it. For as much as the Doctor had a knack for thinking at the speed of sound when it came to mortal peril he couldn't seem to manage the same when it came to dodging Rose Tyler and putting on some sort of fake identity. Let's face it, when it came down to it he wanted her to know who he was so he wouldn't have to lie anymore. So he wouldn't have to make up silly, thick stories of answers with hints of truth to them.

"Oh, yes. A sonic modulator. Effectively it regulates the frequency of audio pulses from the source; which in this case happens to be a tiny speakr from a phone in the gas station. The amplification will be the problem, though, even if we can get a small crack in the glass it should go a long way with the way the weather around here changes. Not to mention the shifts in barometric pressure." He took a breath. "From writing with your Doctor it seems like he might be able to help. I'd worked on it before; but, it got crushed and then disappeared following the earthquake..." John Smith shrugged.

"Well, two heads are better than one, aren't they?" They were rounding the top of the small incline that lead to the Museum, the large sturcture almost looming in front of them. "Looks like your stop, Rose Tyler." Was that a hint of disappointment in John Smith's voice?

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jeopardysfriend
2009-07-31 02:11 pm UTC (link)

Her Doctor. He'd done it again. She wondered if it was an unconscious thing, something he didn't even know he was doing till he did it. Or maybe even after. He was the only one who did it, too.

Rose smiled up at the man in the suit, the trenchcoat, and a pair of Chucks on his feet. He was different. Special. That much she knew. She just had no idea how very special he actually was. Not yet, anyway. Fragments were lingering about her head, coming together in small pieces. Like a puzzle with too many pieces to nail right away. She'd started with the corners, and was working on the outside. It wouldn't be long before she filled it in and made that final picture come together.

"Always heard things were better with two," she teased slightly, moving about with a grin. To be in as much danger as they were, she found a part of herself embracing this place. If nothing else, she'd grown to adore the people she'd met in the short time she'd known them. "You do know I'm only going to stay in one place till you're far enough away not to catch me wandering off, right?"

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fromgallifrey
2009-08-01 02:03 pm UTC (link)

He'd keep calling Nine her Doctor. Get used to it, Rose. Because he wasn't your Doctor yet and Nine was. Sorry for the confusion. You didn't give him reason not to, either.

"Well, if you do go wandering off, could you at least take someone with you?" He knew he shouldn't bother asking. If Rose wanted to wander around alone, she'd wander around alone, that's all there was to it. He wouldn't half mind if they were someplace that didn't have people trying to essentially kill them. Unfortunately, they weren't at some dinner party at the end of the world this time; no, they were in the middle of some crazy person's idea of a good time.

John Smith shrugged. "You're going to do what you like anyway, Rose Tyler." They came up on the stairs that lead up into the museum and the Doctor smiled. "At least wait until I'm out of sight before you go running off again, yeah?"

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jeopardysfriend
2009-08-01 02:53 pm UTC (link)

It was odd how he seemed to know her already. Maybe, in wherever his 'Smithton' actually was, people read minds. Or at least read character. There would have been a time when she would've thought that was impossible, but the Doctor had shown her that nothing she once thought would be was, in fact, impossible. Maybe he had some ability to read into the fact that she would hardly be caught in one place. And that she was more likely to do as she wanted than what he wanted her to do.

Besides, if she knew what he was thinking, she'd have told him she'd run off on her own many more times than just the end of the world. Nineteen-forties London was hardly the end of the world, no matter what Nancy had thought!

Rose dropped to the stairs, stretching her legs out in front of her as she smiled up at him. Partially because she was afraid if she continued standing, she'd do something embarassing again like hug him or touch him or something, and she'd already made him more than his share of uncomfortable that day. "You're too good to me," she told him, tilting her head to try and get a better look into those eyes. "For that, I'll spare you the responsibility of knowing I took off so you won't feel required to come rescue me. You can only do the Prince Charming thing so many times in one day."

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fromgallifrey
2009-08-01 04:08 pm UTC (link)

It really was surprising to the Doctor that Rose hadn't drilled him a bit more about where he'd come from. Maybe her time in that police box of his travelling to impossible worlds had taught her to respect other's desire for annonymity. Probably not. She was probably just formulating the best way to ask and push a bit. She could be quite snarky when she wanted to; but, maybe she didn't think that was the way to go? John Smith just smiled, sort of enjoying being on the other side of Rose Tyler for a change.

Rose settled down on the stairs and the Doctor found himself lacking something to lean against so he widened his stance and shoved his hands in his pockets, swaying a little back and forth on the balls of his feet as he decided where he ought to be traipsing off to next.

"Too good? Me? Never." What you ought to wonder, Rose Tyler, is if he treated everyone as good as he treated you. (No.) Then you ought to wonder why he treated you so well. Then you'd be half way to figuring out the puzzle that was John Smith of Smithton, England.

What Rose Tyler didn't know, at least this Rose Tyler, was that he'd always feel the responsibility to come and rescue her. He'd always have to come and pluck her out of danger and find a way to keep her from harm. Too many perilous times he'd worked to save you Rose, and you didn't even know about them yet! You thought Nine had saved you from some wicked stuff? Wait until you lose your face to the wire! Or when there's a werewolf chasing after you! Oh, he'd saved you plenty Rose; but, more importantly, you'd saved him.

"Oh, I never quite fancied myself prince charming. Think I could be more like Merlin? Got some fancy tricks, that one." He was grinning at you Rose and he could stop. Think you could do him a favor and shuffle him off some place else?

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jeopardysfriend
2009-08-01 04:22 pm UTC (link)

Rose tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear, watching her companion rock on his feet like a restless child. He looked nearly happy. No, he looked definitely happy, that wide grin that was basically contagious and had her smiling right back at him. And why not? Sure, they were in danger and could be snatched up to certain death at any moment. But they weren't just then. Just then they were chatting. And most people who knew her knew Rose was quite good at chatting.

She leaned back on her hands, grinning back at him. "Oh, I don't know. I think you'd make a rather charming Prince Charming." Helplessly, she giggled at her own pun. "Coming to a maiden's rescue and all. Do you do that for all the ladies around here or do I get to be one of the special few?"

Brushing off a piece of dirt from her denims, she shrugged her shoulders. "Merlin's probably more true to life than Prince Charming anyway," she reasoned, considering the thought. "I mean, some bloke who swoops in and saves a girl at the last minute who, I might add, ought to have the bollocks to save herself, or a wizard who can cast spells? Really, I've got ten quid on the wizard myself."

Oops. That was a bit rambly, wasn't it? Well, it happened. If he was going to befriend her, and it seemed beside all reason that he intended to, then he ought to go ahead and get used to her being all mouth. "But I always pictured him as old and grizzly and funny-looking and that, you're definitely not." Her cheeks turned a bit pink, but her smile didn't waver for an instant.

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fromgallifrey
2009-08-01 04:37 pm UTC (link)

He did have a propensity for bouncing about like a kid, didn't he? Maybe it was because on the periphery of his gaze there was always this sort of wonder. John Smith enjoyed the world, if you'd follow him Rose you'd see just how much joy he had in living - well, when you were around anyway. Did it really matter they were in a place where people died all the time? Where danger would pop up again every day and leave them all reeling? No, because for now they were two friends chatting it up on a fairly nice day.

"Oh, it's a habit. Blokes, ladies, kittens in trees." Planets, moons, solar systems, universes. Couldn't very well go and change his stripes, could he? Nope, John Smith saved things, you'd pegged him right on that one, Rose.

As Rose rambled the Doctor's smile spread infectiously. He didn't let her talk nearly enough when they were together, did he? Being so prone to long audiable streams of consciousness didn't really make it too easy for her to get a word in edgewise, did it? So, he'd zipped his lips and let her thoughts roll on finding it impossible not to laugh when it was all over. "Old and grizzly?" Well, Rose, he was old. Quite old. Not quite grizzly, would you take impossibly awry hair as a substitute? "Even Merlin had to be young once, noone's born old."

Wait, was Rose blushing? Wait? What? Oh. John Smith looked at his trainers, he'd never been on this side of Rose Tyler, either.

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jeopardysfriend
2009-08-01 04:47 pm UTC (link)

Oh, but you had been on that side, Doctor, though this Rose wasn't entirely sure of that yet. But the blushing on her part was usually hidden behind her jacket or in little grins of pleasure from his praise when he was already off on his next great adventure. And that went for him in both bodies.

Had she embarrassed him? Well, fine then. He deserved it, all the sweet things he'd popped out already. And not about her looks, as some blokes did, but he'd called her smart and brilliant and all sorts of things no one should considering she really wasn't. Hadn't even sat her A-levels.

Besides, he was definitely not grizzly. He was adorable. That bright smile of his. He was completely worthy of her blush, if she thought about it long enough. Not incredibly stunning in that way Remy could be when he flashed that crooked grin, or even in that way that Jack was, where he was beautiful and knew it. No, he was some other form of handsome entirely. And she wouldn't deny liking it.

"Nah, he's a wizard," she teased up at him, trying to catch his eyes away from his trainers. Which really were sort of cute considering the suit. "Wizards are born old. I bet they're not even born, I'll bet they're created out of thin air. Were you, Dr. Smith? Just one day, POOF. You're here?"

Oh, he was brilliant to tease, in a way the Doctor, her Doctor, couldn't be.

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