001 ✥ VIDEO

[pandoricas]

[Hello residents of turtleland, have one (1) Rory Willams looking at you through these console things. He's looking decisively uncertain about this, possibly wondering if making this post is even a good idea in the first place, considering one name he saw on the list...

But well, he's already started the recording, so stopping it now is kind of redundant. Rory gives another unsure look through the screen for a moment more before he pointedly clears his throat and starts to speak.]

Uh... hello, I guess. My name's Rory, I used to be a nurse from Leadworth, and I'm... married.

[Yeah, good job there Rory. Real smooth. Can you see how out of his depth he feels right now?]

So, um. From what I understand, we're not-dead... and on a giant turtle. [Quiet mutter at this point.] Why a giant turtle? Space whales are one thing, but... [Trailing off here for a moment now, as if lost in some other thought entirely, but Rory quickly shakes himself off it and focuses back on the video again.] I guess not being dead is good. I mean, it's not fun being dead. I don't like being dead.

[Rory, you're not making things better for yourself.]

Anyway--hello, I guess? Looks like I'm going to be stuck here no matter what, so I suppose its nice to meet the rest of you who are stuck here too. [Beat.] Here's to being stuck together? Or something like that.

Comments

[parallels]

Already done. Went to the clinic and got an obscene about of pain medicine. So it's been a few days of nothing but sleeping and waking up for the occasional cuppa. Which means I am definitely fine.

[she swallows and then asks the question hanging in the air.]

Is the Doctor with you?

[pandoricas]

[Okay, good. That's very good. Rory is glad you do sensible things, Clara. Last thing he wants is somebody who doesn't pay attention to sensible things and attempts something way over their heads.

He nods, clearly agreeable to the answer--annnnnd there's the awkward pause after that as Clara asks The Question.]

He--

[And for once Rory looks sad and apologetic, expression becoming something so much more sorrowful.]

--no, he isn't. Not anymore.

[parallels]

Oh.

[Well of course not. The Doctor lost Rory and his wife and that's why she found him in Victorian London, alone and depressed. And now that she knows its after that time for Rory she winces.]

I'm sorry.

[pandoricas]

[It does hurt, yes, but perhaps what hurts more is Amy's reaction. In the end she chose him over her imaginary friend, a decision that speaks volumes but Rory always knows that a part of her wishes she still could be with the Doctor - and it's a feeling Rory can understand. This was never how they wanted this to end, and to be wrenched away so suddenly... its never good.

He attempts a weak smile, more for Clara's benefit than his, because Rory knows he will move on eventually. That's what he does, after all.]

It's fine. We all have to leave eventually, right? [He's not that disillusioned, after all - one way or another, both he and Amy do have to leave the Doctor eventually. The Doctor may be forever, but he and Amy were not.]

[parallels]

Yeah. Nothing lasts forever.

[there had never been any delusions about her time with the Doctor. But it was more that she missed him here. She'd just torn herself apart to save him and then he'd found her. But her memories are hazy and she can barely remember being with him. She has to make sure he's okay.]

But maybe he'll end up here. Trouble is his calling.

[pandoricas]

[There's a wry smile from Rory here, because yeah, that's pretty true. Where there's trouble, the Doctor is usually sure to follow.]

Isn't he here already? I saw the list...

[Clearly there was 'The Doctor' there, unless it was somehow somebody not the Doctor. Although Rory can't think of somebody who would actually call themselves that.]

[parallels]

It's him. But a different face. Before the one with a bowtie.

[so he's basically a stranger. But she keeps that to herself.]

[pandoricas]

[Clara might not say it, but Rory can certainly guess. The Doctor had mentioned regeneration before, yes, but he had never really thought about it before - and the consequences.

Who had the Doctor been before?]

Well, I guess that makes the both of us in the same boat. [Attempts a comforting smile.] ...how is he?

[parallels]

He's kind of... Normal. It's weird.

But somehow he's still the Doctor in someways.

[she shrugs a bit, she's still getting to know that Doctor herself.]

[pandoricas]

[...yeah, Rory can't really imagine the Doctor as 'normal' in anyway.]

I guess I'll just have to see it for myself.

[parallels]

I'm sure you'll run into him eventually. Jack and Rose too. They're his... us. Traveling companions.

[pandoricas]

[--ah, well, that certainly explained a few things.]

I've met them. I think.

[Pause.]

Not quite what I expected.

[parallels]

They're friendly enough.

Rose and I get on.

[It's mostly just filler. She figures he probably doesn't actually care if she and Rose are friends or not.]

[pandoricas]

[What no he does care!! He just... needs to know Rose better, that's all. This is all kind of awkward, meeting other people who have travelled with the Doctor before - it had always been just him and Amy.]

How is she--I don't know, does she know you're with the Doctor?

[Should they actually say anything?? Would that cause some kind of weird space-time breakdown or something...]

[parallels]

She knows. Sort of hard not to bring up, I think. I mean, he sort of takes over your life.

[ssh Rory, Clara is just a bit guarded with people first and assumes more distance than there actually is.

[pandoricas]

[Have a look of complete understanding, Clara. Rory totally knows where you're coming from.]

Well, at least things seem to be alright then... I hope? [A beat.] I'm not quite sure what to really say, honestly. Its all kind of sudden.

[parallels]

[She catches that look and gives him a small smile back. It's kind of nice to meet (or well get to know in Rory's case) other people who've traveled with the Doctor.]

It is sudden. Wake up, told you might be dead, and shoved off to get a job. Welcome to Keeliai.

[pandoricas]

[A quiet laugh at that, because, welp, Rory can't say he isn't used to that. Minus the job bit, but the dead part.]

Not much we can do about that. [Wryly now, and Rory scratches his head.] Somebody already pointed me towards a clinic, so I guess I know where to ask for a job once I've settled...

[And, uh, possibly get some clothes beyond his 1930s sleepwear.]

...um. Do you know where I can get clothes?

[parallels]

Lucky you. I've just had to get a job at a cafe.

[But she smiles and seems a little amused at his clothing.]

There are a few shops here and there. Nothing too impressive and I miss Urban Outfitters like mad, but it will do.

[pandoricas]

Something is better than nothing. I'll go there later.

[Because he kind of really needs clothes.]

Um. Thanks for all your help so far.