𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 || apinkandyellowgirl

The dust was relentless and violent, echoes of his every choice and regret overcoming his hoarse screaming, and Rose, Rose was gone, and it was his fault. The dust was him and he hated it, for taking her away, for driving her forward, for stealing her from her safe life, for every past decision taken and every discarded possibility binding his wrists and ankles, keeping him from her side—and now she was into the abyss, lost, lost, lost.

The world was mourning its colours and he refused to believe that such a sacrifice could be worth anything.

The shakles of his own actions started to pull him further back, sudden wind gusts dragging him, thunder blinding him, and the Doctor fought as he could, distraught and so very adamant, because he had to reach her, he had to follow and bring her back. He had to find Rose Tyler. Dust turned golden as it touched his cheek and he cried out— they were going to devour him— he couldn’t let it, he couldn’t let himself— his hands flew to his face and gripped the sand to rip it away—

But. A visage. The sun was shining on him. No wonder that gold had seemed so familiar in a glimpse. He had found her… No. She had found him. Brilliant, beautiful Rose Tyler. She was by his side and she was and wasn’t the sand; she was holding him, but to keep him from drowning.

Rose was there. Rose was still there. A hand on his cheek, her hair just about to graze his face, and he almost smiled out of the most pure and blissful relief, thinking of pulling her as close as she always should be by the wrist he was holding. Rather— rather strongly at that. The Doctor snapped himself out of the numb reverie and forced his hand to clamp open and free Rose, his other arm to push him up along with his legs, and with the quickness of a jolt his back hit the bed’s headboard.

The Doctor ran a hand down his sweat-covered face and managed a sharp breath in.  “Sorry—”  A pang of shame at the trembling of his voice had the Doctor interrupt himself and clear his throat.  “I’m sorry. Did I—”  He hesitated. Twice. What could he say? Pathetic. He had most likely awoken her with his thrashing and caused her to worry this much, perhaps even scare her. How much had she seen? How much had she heard? Great showing of self-control there, especially for a TIme Lord. Bloody fantastic. He should be hiding under the covers and waiting for her to forget this whole thing ever happened…

He blinked to focus on calming his heartsrate, but the dream—bad, bad dream—still lingered behind his eyelids. His eyes were warm every time he opened them up again. Oh, come on, you big baby, he chided himself, shaking his head.

"I’m fine. Really, I’m fine."

A shuddering sigh of relief escaped her as his eyes fluttered open and focused, however blearily, on her; she leaned back a little to give him more space, and she swore she saw the faintest twitch to his worn expression. Then he woke for real, stirring and moving to sit up -- she straightened and then sat on the empty space on the bed between his leg and the edge, her eyes darting from his eyes to his still-shaking hands and back to scour his expression.

What could he have been dreaming about, that he had called out for her not to leave? What could possibly have been so terrifying to the Doctor -- that involved her?

It was difficult to watch him like this, sweating and still shaking slightly, but she imagined it had to be even more difficult for him, actually living it. The Doctor, who bounced away from his troubles and preferred changing the subject, and Rose, who never pressed it when she knew it wasn't the time.

He needed space now, to be sure, but she couldn't just leave him there, alone. Especially not after what she'd heard him shouting.

"Yeah," she replied simply, a faint smile on her lips. "'m up now, there's no stoppin' me."

She fell silent once again, this time watching him as he blinked and breathed, blinked and breathed, like some kind of timed rhythm. It was several eternity-long moments to her before he spoke again, but when he did, she couldn't help but let out a short, humourless snort, her eyes soft as she sought his to offer some small modicum of comfort, anything.

"You're not," she murmured, reaching out to place her hand over one of his. "You had a nightmare. Happens to all'f us, even Time Lords, 'm sure. It's completely normal you're not feelin' your best, yeah?"

She squeezed his hand gently.

"...d'you want to talk about it?" she asked softly with a tilt of her head, hoping she wasn't being too forward.

     I shiver as we pass by a black hole, rushing not to be sucked in, but you are blissfully unaware and I can’t help but be happy for that. There’s some amount of credence, I think, to the idea that ignorance is bliss. That’s a purely human saying, of course— the Time Lords fought against not knowing anything. They wanted to be transcendental beings, gods of their universe, while you—

     You are human. Sometimes I think you are lucky for it.

     I notice that the temperature has dropped a little during my musings. I shouldn’t ponder what ifs, especially when there’s so much of time and space that I can see, but I can’t help but wonder what sort of existence it would have been if I hadn’t known about all the people I’d lose, all the disasters that would happen.

     I cease pondering it and raise the heat to more comfortable temperatures again.

Meanwhile, Rose was sitting cross-legged on her bed, flipping through pictures. Some were from their recent escapades out -- the Doctor never liked sitting still for a picture, but candid shots were all right with her, and he sometimes consented to take pictures of her -- but a lot were old photos from back home. Her and Mum posed beside the Christmas tree; her and Mickey out at the pub the night of a match; Shareen making a face at the camera, and in the next one, Shareen pulling her in by the arm so that both of them could pose in their best party clothes; there were so many photos...

Sometimes, even Rose got homesick, no matter how much she loved the traveling and the adventures and the fantastic new life the Doctor had shown her. It was like a cold chill deep in her stomach, the ache of missing family...

...at least, until suddenly, gently, she felt warmer again, and realized that the chill hadn't only been been emotional, but physical.

"Thanks," she murmured, knowing the TARDIS could hear no matter how quietly she spoke.

And then, almost impulsively and feeling very foolish for speaking aloud, she added, "D'you...ever get homesick? Miss people?"

     Jack had managed to hook up his music player to something underneath the console surface, and hummed along to some Frank Sinatra cheerfully as he worked on recalibrating things. Spotting Rose out of the corner of his eye, he sat up, barely missing bumping into the screen that read out external environmental data as he called out to her.

     ”Hey, sugarplum, what’s going on?” He half-waltzed over to grab her hand, grinning the whole way.

"So that's where you were," she beamed, holding her hand out towards him as he came over to her. "The Doctor's readin' an' I didn't want to bother him, so I thought I'd come 'round an' bother you. That all right?"

She grinned back at him, tongue caught between her teeth as she did, elated by the expression on his face. Spending time with Jack was always fun, whether one-on-one or with the Doctor involved too. Besides, she'd been bored on her own, and Jack -- well, he was anything but boring.

apinkandyellowgirl started following you

"Afternoon, ms. Here for a check up?" He had no need to think anything of his sister or The Doctor’s life when at work.

"Oh, ta, but no," she smiled, sheepish apologies written into the expression on her face as she turned to face the man who'd spoken.

"I was actually just wonderin' if my friend had come by here -- I've lost him, see, an' he's, er, sort of my ride. He's tall, wearin' a pinstriped suit an' trainers, got on a big brown coat?"

Elisa gave the girl a smile shrugged. “No harm done,” Elisa said. “Odd place to be hiding in, don’t ya think,” Elisa jokes and tilts her head. “My name’s Elisa. What’s yours?”

Closing the door of the TARDIS behind her -- figuring it was too late to go back in and pretend like nothing had happened now -- Rose grinned back, giving a shrug. "A bit, yeah," she admitted, a laugh on the edge of her words, "but I like odd things. My name's Rose -- it's good to meet ya, Elisa! Pretty name."

"Well, yes- yes I suppose it is," Ellie said, a bit taken aback by the young woman’s enthusiasm. Sure she was happy to see a bit of sunshine here finally- London was dreadfully grey and dreary most of the time compared to Broadchurch- but she wasn’t about to go bounding down the walk or anything. "Tom, sweetie, please put your helmet on. Thank you!" she called to her son who was enjoying the day with a bit of time on his skateboard.

"Oh, brilliant," she beamed, standing up straighter despite the look on the woman's face that clearly spelled out that she thought Rose had gone a bit bonkers. Absently, she wondered what her mother would be doing now -- whether she'd even arrived in the right time frame that would allow a visit -- and her smile dimmed just a little. Quickly, though, it was strengthened by the look the woman gave to a boy not far away from them.

"He your son?" she asked, much calmer than she'd been before, her smile gentler. "He looks sweet. I was just thinkin' of going to visit my mum, actually." The admission came from nowhere, but she thought it might explain her rather abrupt behaviour.

Violet eyes glanced down at the offered hand, and slowly she reached out to shake it. It was..different, nearly strange, for her to be interacting with a stranger like this without wanting to kill her. Anna decided she liked it; she figured it was a practice to regain her humanity back.

The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, the beginnings of a faint smile. “The same for me. I have nothing to do until school lets out..”

Rose wondered, briefly, whether the girl before her was the type to be nervous with new people -- it seemed like she was unused to Rose's brand of friendliness, in any case. She decided then that she'd tone it down a little, hoping to reassure her. Still, she shook her hand brightly, a wide smile on her face.

"Your mate's in school?" she asked, curious, rocking back onto her heels and shoving her hands into her pockets. "Mine just wanders off, least you've got a location for yours!" At that, she let out a light laugh and a smile.

[ It is the reaction he’d anticipated, and it endlessly pleases him. As he tips in, just the slightest, his smile opens up to show straight teeth and crinkle his mischievously coruscating eyes at the corners. ] " Oh, but it is. " [ He turns, away, but before he takes a step after the swivel, he looks across his shoulder, unpockets a hand, and wriggles his fingers at her. ] " Come on then. "

[ She's mesmerized by the idea, and maybe just a little bit by the look on his face. Mostly, though, knowing that all her life she's grown up being assured that the 30th of February isn't a day and now being told differently -- well, it's one hell of a kick, isn't it! She's excited, and the grin grows on her lips until it matches his. ]

"Show off."

[ Even her amazement isn't going to stop her from teasing him. And then, her eyes bright and curious and her grin wide, she takes his hand. ]

"Go on, then!"

[ He lays a hand upon his chest and inhales deeply, straightening. ] " My companion’s hair is nothing like the sun - roses are far more red than her lip’s red — ! " [ He deflates again, though, when he glances her shyness, beneath him. His own expression of bold humor fades, and, as it falls, his hand slides up into the back of his hair, to scratch within the short choppy layers.  Does this warrant a you’re welcome? Even as an alien, he somehow doubts that is the appropriate response. ]  " You, uhhh — " [ Silence. ] " … You’re welcome. " [ He can’t think of anything better. ]

[ It's stilted and god she's made a mistake, hasn't she, she's made this too real and now he'll never try something like this again -- what an idiot!

Is there even sincerity behind it, or is he just saying it because he feels like he's got to say something? Cor, she's overanalyzing again, no -- no, no, she's got to back up now, change the subject, it's always much easier doing that --]

"Can't keep stealin' Shakespeare an' pretendin' you've written it, you know."

[ She smiles, but it's more hesitant than before. There'd been a pause between his 'you're welcome' and her joking, he's got to have noticed it, and she feels so naff and awkward like she's fourteen all over again. ]

"I'll start thinkin' you can't come up with anythin' better."

The Master spun around in confusion at being called by the name that his childhood friend had chosen. Then he found himself face to face with a certain blonde that he had often heard about. “What makes you think… Oh sweet Gallifrey it is the leather jacket, short dark hair and big ears, isn’t it…”

She skidded to a halt when the man turned around and it demonstrably wasn't the Doctor -- the embarrassment made her cheeks turn a healthy shade of pink, and Rose had already opened her mouth to apologize profusely when the man spoke.

She'd planned to keep looking for the Doctor, but not after that.

"You -- you know the Doctor?!" she asked, eyes wide in surprise. The man had described him perfectly; there couldn't be any other explanation. "Have you seen him 'round?"

Chloe looked at the other in concern.                ”Are you all right?”

"...yeah -- yeah, I reckon I'm fine," she murmured, shaking her head and putting a smile on. Losing herself in her own thoughts could be saved for some other time.

"Thanks, though. Any reason you asked?"

Ghost Tours || Rose

Dani resisted the urge to ask further, though her curiosity was peaked. What was so secret that Rose couldn’t talk about it? But the excitement, and slight nervousness, that accompanied the scheme was taking over.

The younger girl led the blonde to a particular door on the landing, stopping just outside of it. “Dee’s though there.” She said, gesturing to the doorknob. “Go on; I’m sure she’ll like to meet you!”

Though Rose wasn't scared of what she'd find -- she was almost sure she'd met more terrifying things than the ghost of a young girl, anyway -- she was curious why her young guide wouldn't be coming in with her. "I'm going in alone, then?" she asked offhand, raising her eyebrows, their previous conversation forgotten now.

Looking back at the door, she put her hand on the knob and turned it, trying not to feel like she was playing directly into any horror film clichés. "All right," she said, half to herself and half to Dani. "See you in a bit, then!"

And she pushed the door open, making her way in with equal parts curiosity and mild trepidation.

+ 1

                         ohohohoho!

             He knows you.

That laugh's not so comforting.

"You laughin' at me, mate?"

"I can’t believe she actually said that," the blonde murmured, shaking her head in happy disbelief. There was a relief that spread through her, still so glad that Sarah Jane remembered her well. It took a moment, but suddenly Rani’s words sank in, and she looked up, eyes following where the younger girl had pointed out. "Number thirteen?" Rose asked, just to be sure, turning back to Rani with a smile on her face.

Rani smiled back and nodded.  “Come on,” she motioned for Rose to join her at the front door before she ran over and knocked on the door.

She watched her go, the smile still on her face, beforekicking herself into gear and joining Rani at the door. The moment she got there, she felt her stomach turn over once in anticipation -- would everything really be all right? It'd been a while since they'd seen each other last -- and she bounced gently on her toes as she waited to work off the sudden extra energy. "You think it's all right, that I've turned up without notice like this?" she asked Rani quietly as they waited for someone to answer the door.

The sound of a motion alert from her cameras was all it took to catch the attention of the central AI, and she quickly brought up the footage in question on her screen. What she saw interested her greatly, and she wordlessly zoomed in, blinking her optic in consideration. It had been quite some time since a human had been inside the facility- a living, easily accessible human, at any rate…

“Hello,” The voice was flat, computerized, and yet… almost sounded a bit curious at the same time. “and may I be the first to welcome you to the Enrichment Center.”

A circular lift lowered into place on the other side of a nearby door, which promptly slid open with an almost ceremonious ‘ding’. GLaDOS wasn’t sure if this woman would enter it, but it was certainly worth the attempt to possibly lure her farther into the facility, and down to the testing tracks.

The voice hadn't been expected -- Rose started in surprise, looking around from left to right in an attempt to locate the speaker or screen it had come from. She didn't see anything, but then, Rose thought, who knew what time period she'd landed in? This could be the future, where maybe buildings themselves spoke to the people who entered them; Rose came from 2005, she didn't know what the future held.

That simple fact, combined with her insatiable curiosity, was really going to get her into trouble one of these days. (Probably sooner than later.)

"Thanks, then," she replied uncertainly to no one, feeling as though she ought to be polite all the same. To herself, she muttered, "Enrichment for what?"

The 'ding' of the door to the lift opening wasn't exactly an answer to her question, but it did pique her curiosity, despite everything. Throwing a look back at the TARDIS, Rose took a step forward. And then another.

When she arrived, she looked in with an interested gaze; she was torn between looking to see where it went and staying behind until the Doctor came out from the blue box.

"Sorry -- can I ask a question?" the blonde said aloud, looking up at the ceiling for lack of anyone to talk to. "Where does the lift go?"