[ Rose feels like a bit of a TARDIS veteran by now. She's been about a bit, seen - well, it feels like a lot to her, but really it's nothing compared to what she hasn't seen yet. She's sort of... used to it.
And then here's this bloke who turns up. No idea how. And of course he's speechless, looking around like a goldfish, which is funny for about five minutes and then the silence gets awkward. ]
So!
[ Her hands in the pockets of her jacket, she takes a step closer, giving a sort of well, better make the best of it smile. ]
[ Oh! No. Right. He's not at work now. No code name necessary. A shake of his head and a more normal toned: ]
No, sorry, Jonathan.
[ He'd rather be Jonathan. Though, if this Doctor was anything like the ones he'd seen growing up then it was going to turn into the kind of nickname he hated.
He'd give her a smile - an apologetic one for ... everything. ]
[ His look around makes her look around too, but there's a kind of contentment on her face that says it all - for her, this is home now. As close to one as her and the Doctor have got. And she likes it that way. ]
Yeah, well.
[ She looks at him again, half a step back now. She's in her element. ]
S'pose you sort of get used to it.
[ But the grin on her face says otherwise. Even for the Doctor every day's still an adventure, and he's what, 900? ]
[ Her face says it all: alright, it's a fair cop. ]
No chance.
[ She laughs again, shrugging, he's got her but she couldn't care less. Then her expression changes suddenly - a question she's clearly been dying to ask bubbling all at once to the surface and she's sorry 'cause she knows how it'll sound but she's got to know. ]
[ It's probably bad that there's relief on her face when he says yes, but it's just sort of easier to be around humans. She basically knows what she's doing. ]
What, me? Yeah. Yeah. And uh... what year is it? Just - refresh my memory.
[ Her clothes-- He's never paid much attention to clothes so he has no idea. But she certainly looks modern enough. So he doesn't think anything of it and grins. ]
[ Alright, now that's a surprise. 1862 she could've managed. 4126? Yeah, she'd get there. But 2014? That's only seven years from - well, from when she left. Rose blinks, visibly a bit taken aback. ]
Sorry. Um - sorry, yeah, so is it Jon, then? Or are you one of them who keeps it Jonathan all the time?
[ She's a bit flustered and obviously trying to misdirect him, but it's good natured and she smiles bright and expectant and please just take the bait. ]
[ ... This was slightly worrying. There had to be something that she didn't know. He gives a sort of awkward smile. The one used in delicate social situations. ]
Does something terrible happen in 2015 I should know about?
[ He is glad she asked so he'll answer but. That's not really what he's worried about. ]
[ How's she meant to answer that? She just shrugs, and it's almost comically suspicious. Then right back on tack with the name conversation she's become totally determined to have. ]
Oh, right, yeah - Jonathan. You named after family then?
[ She's already running out of stuff to say. How does the Doctor manage to go on and on for ages like that? What would he say? ]
I um, I always - well I always liked being a Rose, but still, might be nice to have one'a those... longer names...
[ This is not going well. She glances at the door and bites her lips, praying that the Doctor will come back through it and save her from accidentally telling someone they're stood in a time machine. ]
[ ... She isn't very effective in this. And now he's incredibly worried. You don't avoid a subject this hard without there being a substantial reason for it. ]
Rose, honestly. [ He's still going to make a joke. ] Do the Daleks invade or something like that?
[ Her frown deepens and she steps back, away from him, casting a glance over her shoulders now for something - anything - she might defend herself with. Of course the Doctor's not here, of course not... ]
Is this some Satellite Five thing? You got cameras in here now, 's that it?
[ The more Jonathan talks, the more Rose backs away, until she's standing against the console of the TARDIS and staring at him with narrowed eyes that turn beetle black with suspicion. ]
Where've you seen him then?
[ 'Other incarnations'. He knows the Doctor changes. Makes sense that there were times before the one she met - she's never thought about it, but it makes sense. Maybe he met one. Maybe... and there's a tightness in her chest to think this stranger knew him first. Her Doctor. ]
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And then here's this bloke who turns up. No idea how. And of course he's speechless, looking around like a goldfish, which is funny for about five minutes and then the silence gets awkward. ]
So!
[ Her hands in the pockets of her jacket, she takes a step closer, giving a sort of well, better make the best of it smile. ]
What's your name, then?
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Q
[ Oh! No. Right. He's not at work now. No code name necessary. A shake of his head and a more normal toned: ]
No, sorry, Jonathan.
[ He'd rather be Jonathan. Though, if this Doctor was anything like the ones he'd seen growing up then it was going to turn into the kind of nickname he hated.
He'd give her a smile - an apologetic one for ... everything. ]
Yours?
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Sounds like you ain't sure.
[ Just teasing, of course. ]
I'm Rose. Rose Tyler.
[ She offers her hand to shake, just because it feels like what to do next. ]
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[ Hand: taken. ]
Pleasure, Rose. You seem very comfortable with--
[ A very pointed look around. ]
All this.
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Yeah, well.
[ She looks at him again, half a step back now. She's in her element. ]
S'pose you sort of get used to it.
[ But the grin on her face says otherwise. Even for the Doctor every day's still an adventure, and he's what, 900? ]
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Do you ever really?
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No chance.
[ She laughs again, shrugging, he's got her but she couldn't care less. Then her expression changes suddenly - a question she's clearly been dying to ask bubbling all at once to the surface and she's sorry 'cause she knows how it'll sound but she's got to know. ]
So you're... human?
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[ He had no offence taken. None at all. So he hoped she wouldn't mind the same question in return. After all, The Doctor did take on all sorts.
He instinctively looks her up and down as if he would be able to tell. ]
And you...?
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What, me? Yeah. Yeah. And uh... what year is it? Just - refresh my memory.
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[ Her clothes-- He's never paid much attention to clothes so he has no idea. But she certainly looks modern enough. So he doesn't think anything of it and grins. ]
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Oh. Yeah. 'Course. Alright then.
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Is that a problem...?
[ Was the world going to end in 2015 or something? ]
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[ Now she laughs at herself, shaking her head. ]
Sorry. Um - sorry, yeah, so is it Jon, then? Or are you one of them who keeps it Jonathan all the time?
[ She's a bit flustered and obviously trying to misdirect him, but it's good natured and she smiles bright and expectant and please just take the bait. ]
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Does something terrible happen in 2015 I should know about?
[ He is glad she asked so he'll answer but. That's not really what he's worried about. ]
I'd prefer Jonathan, yes.
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Oh, right, yeah - Jonathan. You named after family then?
[ She's already running out of stuff to say. How does the Doctor manage to go on and on for ages like that? What would he say? ]
I um, I always - well I always liked being a Rose, but still, might be nice to have one'a those... longer names...
[ This is not going well. She glances at the door and bites her lips, praying that the Doctor will come back through it and save her from accidentally telling someone they're stood in a time machine. ]
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Rose, honestly. [ He's still going to make a joke. ] Do the Daleks invade or something like that?
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How d'you know about the Daleks?
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From watching Doctor Who.
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[ Her frown deepens and she steps back, away from him, casting a glance over her shoulders now for something - anything - she might defend herself with. Of course the Doctor's not here, of course not... ]
Is this some Satellite Five thing? You got cameras in here now, 's that it?
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No, no. I assure you, I've never seen you or this Doctor before. But surely you've heard of his other incarnations?
[ Hadn't she? Or at least jokes from pop culture about it. Even his less nerdy friends knew some of them. ]
Long scarf and jelly babies?
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Where've you seen him then?
[ 'Other incarnations'. He knows the Doctor changes. Makes sense that there were times before the one she met - she's never thought about it, but it makes sense. Maybe he met one. Maybe... and there's a tightness in her chest to think this stranger knew him first. Her Doctor. ]
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Reruns and VHS until very recently.
[ Obviously. ]
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[ She at least looks like she's starting to understand, maybe starting to think he might not be dangerous after all. ]
And the Daleks an' all that?