Woe, Nine, Ten, and Juice humanizations be upon thee.
(click for quality, do not repost, reblogs encouraged)
Rambles for some of my design choices under the cut.
Nine:
It was very important to me to make them look visually similar to ten, but still very distinct. I really had fun incorporating their tin can ass looking body with 60's fashion. OH YEAH I expressly wanted to make each of the three probes have similar fashion to their launch years lol so that was the late 60's for nine. I made them native adjacent just because that's how I saw them in my mind's eye tbh I didn't really have a good reason for it. They are physically the oldest of the three to represent their older state of mind. I was gonna make their antennae spiky hair bits (you can kinda see it in the sketch) but I kinda hated how that looked so I turned them into grey streaks instead. Their eye looks like that because they were NOT originally made with the communication capabilities seen in the story in mind, so their eye serves as a visual reminder to their physical and mental alteration in the story. The glasses are because their eyesight is canonically shit.
Ten:
I actually struggled the least with Ten's design. Reading 17776, I immediately created her image in my brain and it just stuck. I have no idea why she's vaguely east asian in my brain, I know it makes no sense, I don't care. The only part of her design I struggled with was the clothes, since I didn't really think she would wear typical 70's clothing. I looked up formalwear, but I kinda just did my own thing and it ended up looking moreso 40's than anything else.. whoops! I like it and that's all that matters. You may notice that in the sketch, her eye is similar to Nine's, while in the actual drawing, her eye is more normal. The idea of implementing the eye for all three characters was there for a bit, but I REALLY wanted Nine's eye to be unique to them to convey their "otherness" among the group, so no eye for Ten. Ten probably has the goofiest looking beta design, since I just traced over the satellite LMFAO. I like how she came out.
Juice:
Juice took me 3 months. I really don't know what it was about him, since I had a pretty good Idea of what I wanted to do from the start. Juice is fun. I like him. I wanted to do him justice, I suppose. I tried to really push proportions to make him resemble his actual probe moreso than the others, since his probe is actually a shape that a human could feasibly be with clothes on. That big ass puffer haunted my mind I just knew in my soul that's what he would wear. It honestly surprised me seeing other humanizations where he looks completely different, because I could just feel his energy so strongly through the screen lol. I guess that's true for everyone.
So...I might possibly have gotten a teensy bit carried away with this fic. Forgive me. Written for @timepetalsprompts weekly ficlet, this week’s prompt was: “camping”
Summary: A/U John Smith is spending his summer fixing up a cabin from his childhood. Rose Tyler and Jimmy Smith are spending a month in a caravan park. Who knows what could happen?
Word Count: 5555 (I swear I didn’t do it on purpose.)
Characters: Human Nine, Rose Tyler, Jimmy Stone
Happenstance
John Smith pulled up to the run-down cabin in his old Land Rover, smiling at the sight of the dilapidated building. After spending two hours on the road, he was itching to get out and stretch.
He surveyed the outside- the roof was still holding up, but only just. The garden was a tangled mess of overgrown weeds and grasses, tall stalks blowing gently in the breeze. The porch sagged and the entire place had an abandoned, disused look about it. He grinned. Fixing up the old place would be a summer project he could handle. Far from the hustle and bustle of Manchester, it sat on a mostly unused section of wooded land.
He pulled a key out of his pocket. The rickety porch groaned under his weight and he smiled as the old key slid into the lock. A musty smell of dust, dirt, and closed up air assaulted his nostrils as he walked across the cracked linoleum floor. Within a few moments, he’d pushed the fuses back into the power box and hesitantly turned on a light. The bulb flickered and came on steady, a golden glow filling the dank darkness of the cabin.
The ancient refrigerator, complete with worn cloth cord, started up as soon as he plugged it in, and within a few minutes was blowing ice-cold air, humming away merrily. He opened all the windows, hoping to remove some of the musty smell. John surveyed the scene in front of him; he’d definitely have plenty to keep him busy.
By the end of the day he’d managed to get the well pump running, had swept out and mopped the cracked flooring in the kitchen, and tested the decades-old stove and oven combination. Satisfied it was all in working order, he smiled. The water from the sink faucet was finally starting to run clear, too; all in all, not a bad day’s work.
He set up a cot on the kitchen floor and stretched out, watching the stars from the dusty window. He wondered what the summer held in store.
~OOoOO~
Rose sat on her hands, biting her lip nervously. Her boyfriend Jimmy had asked her to stay part of the summer in a caravan park where his band had been hired to play the weekend dances. She’d jumped at the chance, mostly to spark outrage in her mum. It was hours away from London, way up north, and seemed like a grand adventure. Now she just hoped they’d make it there alive. Jimmy swerved in and out of traffic, muttering under his breath about the trip taking too long. They drove for hours before he finally pulled into the caravan park.
“C’mon, Rosie,” he grinned, leading her to his family’s trailer. “Just you and me in here. It’ll be cosy, right?”
Now that they were safe and Jimmy’s second-hand car was parked, she smiled. It would be cosy…they would be a proper couple, living and spending time together.
Rose nodded, “It’s going to be great.”
Jimmy pushed his suitcase into her arms, causing her to nearly drop it. “Careful, Rose. All my stuff’s in there.” He picked up a two bed pillows and smiled. “Let’s get this put away. Then you can fix us tea.”
She stared after him, slightly annoyed. They’d only been in the caravan park for ten minutes and he was already bossing her about. Her hand tightened around the suitcase handle, but when he glanced back and gave her his patented cheeky grin, she felt the annoyance slip away.
~OOoOO~
His first week had been productive. John sat back in the recliner, surveying his progress. It’d cleaned up rather nicely. True, it still needed work, but was well on its way to becoming a livable little dwelling.
He’d replaced the mattresses on both beds. The tiny bedroom held one queen sized bed and one full sized bed. Although the bed frames were old and a bit rickety, they were still in fair shape. He cleaned them carefully, adding a nail here and there to sturdy them up. In an hour, both were serviceable. The same could not be said for the mattresses. One had a hole near the bottom, which, he found, was home to a family of mice. The other was dirty and sagged badly in the middle. With the old mattresses tossed and the new ones in their place, he finally had a decent bed to sleep in. The cot had been sufficient, but nothing compared to a good night’s sleep in a real bed. John wandered outside, looking over the property.
Twilight was quickly approaching, and with it, a sense of fond remembrance; a stringer of fish, scary tales told in the firelight, and a creaky old porch swing that had been gone so long that two rusted eyebolts were the only proof it ever existed at all. He’d spent much of his childhood here, running about outside, fishing with his father and grandfather, and staying up late playing cards. After his grandfather passed, he’d come up with his father. They reminisced about the good times, had a few beers, and left after only one weekend. Two years ago, his father passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He’d inherited the property, but hadn’t had it in him to come back until now.
In the back of his mind, John thought about the place every now and again, a niggling sense of guilt ever-present. He knew his father wouldn’t approve of the cabin sitting empty. Hell, it could have collapsed for all he’d known. John just paid the taxes on the place, and the occasional bill from the electric company, for keeping the service on. The more he thought about it, the more believed that going up for a few months was the right decision. So, he closed up his small practice for the summer, referred his patients to a friend, and packed a few bags.
He opened a beer and sighed softly, feeling at peace. Coming up to the quiet tranquility of the cabin had been the right thing to do. True, he might be a bit lonely, but he had plenty to keep him busy. Quiet reflection, he mused, also had its own appeal.
~OOoOO~
It was late, but Jimmy wasn’t back yet. Rose decided to sit out the show since she already had a headache. They finished playing at midnight; it was now five minutes after two. She bit her lip and fluffed her pillow, trying to ignore the nervous fluttering of her heart. In truth, he’d been more distant this week. Three days ago a beautiful girl with dark brown hair and amazing legs named Pippa had come to stay at the caravan park. Her green eyes had all the boys tongue-tied, but she seemed to have a thing for Jimmy.
Rose sighed. Jimmy was Jimmy- and she knew him well. He was getting drunk or high, or possibly both with his band mates. She rolled her eyes at worrying over nothing and flipped over, finally permitting herself to drift off.
The next morning he strolled in, smelling of stale cigarettes and beer, telling her he’d stayed at Mike and Dan’s trailer and didn’t want to wake her in the middle of the night. He ate a little breakfast and meandered back out, insinuating he’d be practicing with the guys.
She spent the afternoon trying to fix something different for tea. Since they’d arrived two weeks ago, Rose’s limited cooking skills had ensured a steady diet of tinned food, sandwiches, and beans on toast. After speaking to Bet Larsen, the kind elderly woman in the caravan next to theirs, she’d come back with a bit of minced beef and a packet of instant potatoes, hoping that Jimmy would appreciate an almost-homemade shepherd’s pie. Rose fixed it carefully, following the written instructions provided by Bet. She didn’t have an oven, so it couldn’t bake, but when she was through it looked nice enough.
He hadn’t been back since breakfast. Rose stood outside the trailer and scanned the caravan park for Jimmy’s gray tee-shirt. He was nowhere to be found. Longingly, she looked back at the Shepherd’s pie, hot and steaming on the counter. It had been a long wait since lunch and her stomach was rumbling. Making up her mind, she covered the dish with a bit of aluminum foil and carefully closed the door, ready to find him.
She set off at a good pace, knowing exactly where Jimmy would be. Rose knocked on Dan and Mike’s caravan. Mike answered the door, smelling of weed and stale booze.
“’S happenin’ love?” he asked her.
Rose wrinkled her nose. “Lookin’ for Jimmy,” she smiled. “Just made tea and thought he might like to eat while it was hot.”
“He hasn’t been around all day. We thought he’d been shacked up with you all afternoon,” he said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
A cold little lump settled in her stomach. “No,” she said softly. “He left this mornin’ sayin’ you were going to be practising. I haven’t seen him for hours. He stayed with you guys last night, right?”
He looked confused. “Uh…well…” he trailed off.
“He wasn’t here?” Her stomach flipped.
“Maybe I just didn’t notice,” he offered up lamely.
Rose put a hand on the side of the caravan to steady herself, and took a deep breath. “’Kay then. Thanks.”
Mike gave her a sad smile.
She turned and left without waiting for him to come up with another excuse. They both knew where he was.
The wind picked up and the skies started to turn gray as Rose walked towards Pippa’s caravan. She didn’t even need to open the door. Through the screened window she could see and hear all she needed to know. Pippa’s long legs were wrapped around Jimmy and he was slowly pushing himself in and out of her. He whispered something in her ear and she whimpered as he kissed her neck.
Rose stifled back a sob, feeling sick. Jimmy, her Jimmy, was cheating on her... Right here. Right now…right now he was having sex with her. The world started to spin and she gasped for breath. Inside the trailer, Jimmy groaned in pleasure, causing her to close her eyes. She couldn’t compete with a girl like that. After all, she was just a girl from the estates with no A-levels. A chav.
She had to get out. Rose took off running. She climbed the disused path behind the caravan park to the woods on the top of the hill. She ran blindly, wanting to put space between herself and the situation. How could she be so stupid? Why had she agreed to come along? She’d been nothing but a servant to him for the two weeks that they’d been there. She couldn’t call her mum- her mobile barely had reception up here…but even if she could, what would she say? Her mum was the whole way in London, hours away. She had no car or other way of getting home; she was essentially trapped. She kept running, not knowing or caring where she was going. After awhile the burn of her lungs and the pumping of her legs almost seemed therapeutic. It wasn’t until the sun sank low in the sky that she realized her predicament. Rose wasn’t sure where she was- or how to get back.
She turned to see the path where she’d came from and was surprised that there was no path; she’d just been running through the woods. As darkness fell, she found herself tripping over roots and branches that lay low on the floor of the forest. Leaves rustled in the trees and she felt nervous- what were you supposed to do in this sort of situation? Keep walking?
She continued on cautiously, picking her way through the darkening dense wood. The crickets started chirping noisily, and along with the crickets came swarms of hungry mosquitoes. She was defenseless in her shorts and vest top. The noisy insects droned and buzzed around her, sampling her as they saw fit. Frustrated, scared, and emotionally exhausted, she tried running away, hoping she could find relief by fleeing the tiny nuisances. She only made it a few steps before feeling her foot catch on something, followed by a sharp pain in her left ankle. Rose fell to the forest floor, grabbing her leg. She whimpered, overwhelmed by the throbbing sensation. The mosquitoes she’d tried to escape found her easily and resumed their feast. Thirsty, hot, and in pain, Rose began crying earnestly. Would Jimmy even try to find her? Did he know she was missing yet? …or was he still wrapped around Pippa?
~OOoOO~
John listened as an owl hooted in the distance, and smiled to himself. The mosquitoes had been thick the past few nights, but since he’d replaced the window screening, they weren’t an issue anymore. A fan in the corner kept a breeze circulating and he sighed feeling quite content. Sleep would come easy tonight.
He rose early, stumbling out to the little kitchen where he put the kettle on. He surveyed his food supply and frowned. The radio called for fair weather in the morning, but strong storms by the afternoon and evening. Gusty winds and even hail were possible- a rarity in these parts. It was best to make a run to the grocery store. After enjoying a lightly-sweetened mug of tea and a piece of toast, he locked up the cabin and set out for town, a good twenty-five minute drive.
He returned an hour and a half later, armed with a healthy stock of groceries as well as a cooler filled with ice, should the storms knock out power and cause the refrigerator to temporarily fail. The air was thick, heavy, and still. He didn’t like it.
~OOoOO~
It had been a dreadful night. Rose spent half of her time trying to swat away the bugs and the other half dozing on and off. Twice a twig cracked in the darkness and she’d startled awake, certain she was about to be killed by a wolf or some other wild animal. When nothing appeared and the chirp of the crickets returned, she finally relaxed, leaning herself up against a tree. Wearily, she slapped at mosquitoes until exhaustion took over, allowing her to drift into a fitful sleep.
The thin gray light of morning woke her, along with a cacophony of birds. Rose rubbed her eyes and stretched. Her back cracked in protest and she groaned softly. Her mouth was pasty and thick; if only she had a cup of water. She again wondered if anyone was looking for her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car engine turning over- she was sure of it. It was to the left, a good ways off, but that meant people were nearby. She struggled to her feet, trying to keep most of the weight off of her injured ankle that was now swollen and stiff. She tested it gingerly, hissing at the pain, but managed to take a few experimental steps.
Fifteen minutes in, Rose realized this wouldn’t be an easy task. Walking was difficult and painful and she had no idea exactly where she was going or what she’d find when she got there. The caravan park was supposed to be one of the only populated places in the area. What if no one found her? Would she die out here, alone?
She shook her head; this would never do. One step, then another…and another. She encouraged herself, silently cheering with each pace. Little by little Rose headed in the direction of the engine she’d heard. It returned some time later and she groaned. She’d been a bit off- the sound was now coming in a direction more to her west…but still, it was much closer than before. A car door slammed, and she licked her lips. Slowly, steadily, she made her way to the sounds. In fifteen minutes, she could see a clearing. A dilapidated old cabin stood in the clearing, a faded black Land Rover parked next to it. She’d made it.
~OOoOO~
John was unbagging groceries and setting his foodstuffs up on the little shelves when he heard a woman call out. He paused, sure he’d been mistaken, when she called out again.
“Please- please is someone there? Can you help me?”
It was faint, but distinct. He put on his leather jacket and stepped out on the porch, scanning the woods around his cabin.
“Hello?” he called out experimentally. “Is someone there?”
Rose gasped when a man in a black leather jacket stepped out of the run-down cabin. She eyed him warily, feeling very uncertain. She didn’t know this man- what if he was a murderer…or a rapist? She bit her lip; it wasn’t like she could sprint away if he came after her.
He called out again. “Is anybody out there?”
She closed her eyes and said a little prayer. “I-I’m over here,” she said quickly, hoping to God she’d made the right decision.
He walked towards her voice and finally caught a glimpse of the young woman, peeking out cautiously from behind a tree. She looked tired and afraid. Her clothes were rumpled and had smudges of dirt ground into the left side. Mosquito bites covered her arms and legs. She looked miserable.
“C-can I have some water?” she asked softly.
He nodded, incredulous. “How long have you been out here? What happened?”
Rose bit her lip. “I got lost.”
“You spent the night in the woods?”
She nodded her reply.
“C’mon in, then. I’ll get you something to drink. ‘M sure you’re probably hungry, too.” He walked away from her, towards the house.
Rose took two limping steps before he looked back.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, concerned.
“N-no,” she said warily. “’M fine. Leg must’ve fallen asleep.”
Her stance was wrong- her right leg was supporting all of her weight. She had to have injured her ankle. John looked up and saw the trepidation in her eyes- it dawned on him why. She was young, hurt, scared, and alone…and she didn’t know if he would take advantage of that.
“I’m a Doctor,” he said quietly. “I can see you’ve been injured, just by the way you’re standin’. I won’t hurt you, I promise. Name’s John. What’s yours?”
She swallowed thickly. “Rose.”
“Rose. It’s nice to meet you. What brings you up to this part of the country? You’re from London?”
She licked her lips. “Yeah- yes…from London. I’m staying at the caravan park.”
He gave her a surprised look. “The nearest caravan park is at least seven miles from here. You walked all that way?”
She nodded.
He looked up at the sky and back down to Rose. “S’posed to storm this afternoon, you know. Come on. Let’s get you inside.” Cautiously, he walked over to her and picked up her arm, wrapping it around his shoulder. He felt her body tense. “Relax, Rose. Just lean in and use me for support, alright?”
Slowly, carefully, they made the trip back to the cabin.
“Are you really a doctor?” she asked.
“Yes. Have my own practice in Manchester.” He pointed to the ground. “Careful, there’s a hollow right here. Don’t want you turning your other ankle, too.”
She avoided the small obstacle and looked up. He was handsome, she decided, but not in a conventional way. He had high cheekbones and a large nose that somehow worked well together. His ears stuck out a bit too, but also seemed to suit him. Close cropped brown hair framed his face, but his eyes were what she noticed most. They were bright blue, and twinkled when he smiled. A few creases at the corners added rugged character. Somehow, everything melded together perfectly, creating the attractive man who was helping her.
They reached the cabin door and he helped her through to the table, where she collapsed on a kitchen chair. “First things first,” he said, pulling a bottle of water from the tiny refrigerator. “Try to drink it slowly. Just a few sips at a time, okay?”
When the first drop hit her lips, it was all she could do to keep from downing the water in one gulp. She took three big swallows, half emptying the bottle.
“Take a break,” John said, resting his hand on the plastic bottle. “Drinking it too quickly will upset your stomach. You can have as much as you want, Rose. I promise. Just not so fast, alright?”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
“How long were you out there?”
“Since yesterday. Saw somethin’ that upset me and I just started running. I s’pose that sounds stupid, but I was angry and I didn’t know what else to do, so I ran. Ended up realisin’ I was lost when it started to get dark, but by then I didn’t know where I was or where I’d come from. Then the mosquitoes came out.” She rolled her eyes. “I tried runnin’ away from them. Sound mental, I know, but they were just everywhere and I couldn’t get away.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, it was dark and I tripped and…” she indicated her left ankle.
He slid his chair over till he was across from her. “Okay if I look it over?”
“Yeah,” she said softly.
John bent over and untied her shoe, carefully slipping it off. He removed her sock and cocked an eyebrow. The injury was evident, her ankle not only swollen but also bruised.
“Your ankle turned in when you rolled it?”
Rose nodded. “I stepped down on the outside of my foot, yeah. Heard it pop.” She paused a moment. “It really hurt.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it did. Can you lift it up? I want to make sure it’s not broken before I do anything else.”
She nodded, lifting her leg and lowered her foot to rest on his knee.
John carefully felt around the area. Without an X-ray he couldn’t be sure, but it didn’t appear that she’d broken anything. He gave her a smile. “Well, you’ve given yourself a nice sprain, Rose, but it doesn’t look like anything’s broken. I’d like for you to elevate and ice it for awhile, then I’ll wrap it for you.” He stood up and disappeared into a tiny bathroom, bringing out a first aid kit. He handed her a little packet of paracetamol. “Take these, they’ll help with the swelling and the pain.”
She swallowed them down obediently with another sip of water. The bottle was nearly empty. “Could I…” she trailed off.
“Of course.” He pulled another bottle out and handed it to her. “Slowly, remember?”
Rose nodded.
He pulled out a pink bottle of calamine lotion and a few cotton balls. “This,” he smiled, “will help with all the mosquito bites. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many on one person. If the itching starts botherin’ you too much, I do have some Benadryl. But first, let’s get that ankle taken care of and try to make you more comfortable.”
Soon Rose was sitting on a sofa, her ankle propped up on two pillows. The Doctor walked in with an ice pack and a towel. “Here we are,” he said cheerily, gently setting it down on the injury. He shook the bottle of calamine and picked up a cotton ball. Within a few minutes, the soothing lotion had been applied to all of her mosquito bites.
“Sixty-three,” he said. “If anything else, Rose, you’re thorough. Won’t just settle for one or two bites.” He winked. “What is it they say? Go big or go home?”
She laughed. “Think I’d’ve rather gone home.”
He sobered. “You’ve been missing since yesterday afternoon? They must be looking for you. Is there someone you can ring? Reception isn’t great, but you should be able to make a call.”
Her eyes widened. Jimmy. “Yeah, yeah. Can you get my phone? I left it on the table. I couldn’t get a signal last night.”
John shook his head. “It’s spotty out here, but I can almost always get a signal. If your mobile won’t pick up service, you can use mine to ring someone.”
She checked the phone. Two bars. Hesitantly, she rang Jimmy’s mobile. He answered on the second ring.
“Rose, where are you?” He sounded annoyed. “I didn’t see you last night at all. You didn’t even leave a note.”
Her lips pursed. “I got lost, Jimmy.”
“Lost? What the hell do you mean lost? It’s a caravan park.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “Lost in the woods, Jimmy, not in the caravan park. I spent the night outside. I hurt my ankle.”
He sighed heavily. “Leave it to you. Can’t you just walk back? I mean, you can’t have gone far. You might want to hurry. S’posed to start storming soon.”
Rose swallowed thickly. “You don’t even care, do you? You don’t care that I was hurt or that I was lost and that I slept in the woods last night…”
“Aw, Rose, that’s not what I-”
“I did find my way to a house,” she interrupted him. “So don’t worry about me…not that you were. I won’t bother you again.” She hung up the phone.
John, who had overheard the entire conversation, cracked his knuckles. Her so-called boyfriend wasn’t even worried about her. Rose going missing seemed more of an inconvenience to him than anything. He saw her blinking rapidly, trying to hold back tears. After everything she’d been through- getting herself lost, injured, spending a night alone in the woods…now this.
He cleared his throat. “Hungry?” he asked. “When did you eat last?”
She shook her head, looking miserable. “Lunch yesterday,” she mumbled. “I don’t feel like eating just now.”
He set a box of tissues beside her, changing tactics. “Why not have a kip? ‘M sure you didn’t sleep much last night. You must be exhausted.”
“Okay,” she said softly, sounded defeated.
He helped her slide down into a sleeping position on the couch, ensuring her ankle was still elevated properly. He removed the ice pack. “We’ll ice it again, later, but it’s been about twenty minutes. I’ll wrap it for you.”
John pulled out an ace bandage and carefully bound up the injured ankle. “Now, you get some beauty sleep. I’ll fix us something to eat once you’re awake again.” He pulled a fleece blanket out from the corner cupboard and covered her. “If you need something, just let me know.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “’M sorry for all the bother.”
He shook his head. “No bother at all, sweetheart. I mean it.”
Rose nodded, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
John smiled and walked into the kitchen, setting the chairs back into place. The faint sniffles and quiet little sobs that carried from the other room broke his heart. Poor girl. She’d already been through such an ordeal and then that bastard boyfriend of hers hadn’t even noticed…or cared.
~OOoOO~
A crash of thunder woke Rose from her nap and she sat up, startled. The sky had turned dark and she called out hesitantly. “John?”
He didn’t answer. Rose sat up and flinched as a bright bolt of lightning flashed through the sky. The cabin was dark and quiet. She stood up cautiously, wincing as her ankle protested the weight. Slowly, using the walls for support, she made her way through the little dwelling. “John?”
The gray clouds swirled above his head and he prayed the worst of the storm would pass to the south. It hadn’t started raining yet, but the power had already cut out and the weather reports the radio had given set him on edge a little. Could this old place stand up to a severe storm with raging winds? A loud clap of thunder made him jump and he turned around. Rose was standing in the doorway, looking nervous and uncertain.
“You shouldn’t be walking on that yet,” he said, concerned.
Rose chewed on her lip. “Looks like its going to get bad.”
He ran his fingers through his close-cropped hair. “Yeah. Power was cut a bit ago. We’ll be okay, though. This place is old, but it’s still sturdy. C’mon.” Moving alongside her, he picked her hand up, putting it across his shoulder. “Just like before, remember? Lean against me.”
She walked towards the kitchen table, but he shook his head. “Let’s go back to the living room. I want you to keep that sprain elevated. How’s it feeling?”
“Okay,” she said hesitantly, as another streak of lightning shot across the sky, followed by a loud boom of thunder.
Once settled, John looked back her direction. “If things get bad- and I mean really bad, we’ll need to get to the bath. It’s going to be the safest spot.” He smiled. “But I don’t expect it to happen. Usually the weather misses this old place; the worst of it, anyway.”
He gave her a quick smile and disappeared into the kitchen, returning moments later with two sandwiches. “No allergies, right?” he asked her.
Rose shook her head.
He smiled. “Good! Tuck in, then. You’ll feel a little better after you’ve eaten, I’m sure.”
Rose stared out the window and watched the dark swirling skies as she nibbled on the sandwich. It was peanut butter, which she wasn’t used to eating, with slices of banana. An odd combination, but it did taste good. Her stomach rumbled and she took another bite. “I’ve never had a sandwich like this,” she said, smiling. “Mum never bought much peanut butter.”
John laughed. “In my second year of uni, I was assigned a random roommate. Turned out, he was from America. These were his specialty; I grew rather fond of them myself.”
He was interrupted by a blinding flash of lightning and a deafening boom of thunder.
Rose dropped her sandwich and nervously dug her fingers into the fabric of the easy chair
“Bit too close,” he said softly, letting out a breath. “I’m surprised it hasn’t started raining yet.”
As if on cue, the wind picked up, blowing with such a force that it shook the windows in the cabin. The glass rattled in the panes as the gust front came barreling through. Another bright flash of lightning zipped across the sky, hitting a tree just off the property. John held his breath as the tree tottered and fell. It groaned and splinted, falling into the garden with a loud crash.
The rain started plinking off the glass windows, slowly at first, but soon it was an out and out deluge. The wind’s ferocity seemed to intensify and John was beginning to seriously worry about their safety when hail started banging off the old tin roof. He swallowed.
“Rose, I think it’d be best if we went into the bath now. I’m sure we’ll be fine, but-”
He was interrupted as a hailstone broke a window in the kitchen, sending bits of glass across the floor.
She let out a little shriek.
“It’s okay- the hail broke it but c’mon…let’s get away from the windows.” He cursed his luck, wishing he’d thought to bring a battery operated radio. Rose was visibly scared, her skin pale and her hands trembling. Truthfully, he didn’t blame her. He helped her into the tiny bathroom and went back into the kitchen for two chairs. At least they could sit while taking refuge. Two wooden chairs were promptly removed from the table and set in the windowless bathroom. He brought a battery operated lantern in and turned it on, filling the space with a warm glow. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he said softly. “Well both get through this just fine.”
~OOoOO~
The storm raged outside, but Rose and John were tucked away safely in the little cabin. As the hail battered the roof and the lighting and thunder crashed around them, she confessed why she’d run and what she’d seen. He listened without judgment, but finally told her what she already knew- she shouldn’t go back. Not now, or ever. Jimmy made his decision and now she needed to make hers.
She listened as he shared stories of coming to the cabin as a boy. She giggled and smiled at the happy parts, and felt genuine sorrow when he spoke of his granddad’s and then his father’s passing.
The wind died down a little and the rain started to taper off. John opened the door and peered out a window. Another cell was building. Within a few minutes it started all over again, lighting and thunder, rain, wind, and eventually, hail.
Rose closed her eyes, wishing it would be over. He comforted her, reassuring her that they would be alright, that the cabin would hold, and that she would definitely see her mum again. She slipped her small hand into his larger one, leaning against him for support. Without realising it, Rose began easing his loneliness and gave him a sense of belonging.
This was only the first of many storms that they would weather. Outside, the wind howled and the skies rained down their fury, but they could not undo what the universe had done…which was bring John Smith and Rose Marion Tyler together.
This is my attempt for this week’s @timepetalsprompts ficlet prompt which were these lyrics:
[ “ Here’s a story of a girl
Who grew up lost and lonely
Thinking love was fairytale
And trouble was made only for me
Even in the darkness
Every color can be found
And every day of rain
Brings water flowing
To things growing in the ground ” ]
I’ve done my very best to weave a sort of fairy tale-like AU Human 9/Rose story around them. I’d literally never heard these lyrics before this prompt, so it’s a rather literal interpretation. Well, sort of. It was supposed to be about 500 words, but has kind of ballooned into 3000...
At any rate, I had quite a fun time writing it, and I hope you enjoy reading it.
A Nine/Rose Fairy tale AU
Rose Tyler woke in her tiny bedroom, stretching her arms and legs. Sunlight streamed through the window and she sighed lightly. Time to get up, she thought to herself and pushed back the handmade quilt, throwing her legs over the side of the bed. It took all of three steps to cross the room to her dry sink where she picked up the ceramic pitcher with the crack in the side and poured a bit of water into the matching bowl. She washed her face and stared into the tiny mirror before combing her hair and pinning it up.
The bed was quickly made and she pulled off her long cotton nightgown, selecting a pale pink skirt and a light yellow blouse for the day. After donning her underthings, she set about getting dressed. Finally, she neatly folded her nightclothes and set them back in the nearly empty drawer of her small wooden wardrobe.
“Morning, love,” said Jackie Tyler as her daughter made her way into the cramped kitchen.
“Morning, mum,” she smiled. “D’you have anything you need me for today? I thought I might try picking blackberries- I noticed yesterday that they’re really coming on.”
Jackie bit her lip. “I s’pose it’d be all right, but I don’t want you going far. James might call on you later.”
She shuddered to herself, but nodded to her mother.
The past few months James Stone had come to call on Rose. She’d initially been flattered by the attention he gave her- he was charming and sweet and occasionally brought her flowers. Her mum had no doubt that James’ attentions would lead to marriage in a short time and encouraged the relationship.
Rose, however, had begun to see a darker side to James’ personality. She couldn’t put her finger on it directly. Sometimes it was the way he looked at her, or how he’d push her aside roughly, then tease that it was all a joke. She was becoming increasingly nervous about spending time with him, but she didn’t want to disappoint her mum. James might not be everything she wanted, but then, she wasn’t all that he wanted, either. Fairy tales, after all, were for storybooks.
“I won’t go far, mum, I promise.” She smiled. “We both love blackberries- maybe I’ll pick enough for jam.”
Jackie nodded. “I took in wash from the new Doctor in town, so I’ll be off to collect that, but I’ll be back.” She paused a moment, thinking. “I should really get the water heating before I fetch it. It’ll take me the better part of the day, as it is.”
“There’s a new Doctor in the village?” she asked. “Doctor Taylor’s been gone for almost a year…I wondered if they’d ever find a replacement.”
Jackie smiled. “He seems a nice man, though a bit stern. I inquired yesterday about the washing notice he’d tacked to the door. Said he’d have it all bundled up for me.” She turned and looked back at the stove. “Rose…” she trailed off.
She gave her mum a loving hug. “Want me to haul the water?” she asked.
Jackie shook her head, squeezing her daughter’s arm. “No, but if you’d run to the village and pick up the wash, I’d appreciate it- save me a bit of time, anyway.”
She sighed softly, but smiled. “That’d be fine. I’ll pick blackberries this afternoon.”
Ten minutes later, she was pushing their sturdy little cart towards the village. The day was sunny and pleasant and dew still clung to the stems of the flowers and grasses that lined the path as she made her way to town. She reached the Doctor’s house and rapped lightly on the front door.
“It’s open,” a deep voice came from inside.
Hesitantly, Rose pushed the door open, and stood inside the threshold. A tall man with close-cropped hair, a large nose, and prominent ears stepped out, dressed in dark trousers and a white button down shirt. While his features were unusual, Rose had to admit he was very handsome. A dark jacket was slung over a chair and he picked it up, slipping it on as she entered the room.
“Morning, miss,” he said kindly. “You’re needing a Doctor? Not feelin’ well today?”
She stopped and hesitated, momentarily frozen and unable to speak. He thinks I’m a patient.
He was just about finished writing out a list of pharmaceuticals when someone knocked. He answered the door and shrugged on his jacket. A young woman of about twenty stood before him. She appeared hesitant and nervous; he softened instantly, quickly assessing her. Young, blonde hair, soulful brown eyes that were wide and uncertain, faded pink skirt, worn yellow blouse, simple shoes. He assumed what nearly any physician would- newly married, likely in the early stages of her first pregnancy. That would explain the nervousness as well as the hesitancy.
“Come in,” he smiled, nudging her into the room. “If you’ll just sit down and tell me the trouble, I’ll know where to begin.” His hand rested at the small of her back and Rose jumped at the light touch. “No need to be shy,” he said gently, “I can help.”
Finally, her voice returned. “No, Doctor, I’m- that is, my-my mother sent me to fetch your wash.”
He smiled, amused by his presumption- wrong again. “Ah, so you’re Mrs. Tyler’s daughter, then? Fantastic.”
“Yes, she’s my mum…asked me to pick up the wash,” Rose said, feeling silly. She’d just stated her reason for coming. Why did Doctors make her so nervous?
He walked to the corner, picking up a large bundle wrapped in a white sheet. “What’s your name, then, Miss Tyler?” he asked.
“Rose,” she said quietly.
He nodded. Well, this is it, then, Rose Tyler,” he said, hefting the bundle. He started to walk towards Rose, who held out her arms. Just as he reached the young woman, the door opened.
A young man in his early 20’s walked in, scratching his head. He looked equal parts disgusted and angry and huffed. “Lookin’ for the new Doctor,” he said, scanning the room. His eyes fell upon the Doctor first, and then Rose. His lips twitched into a sly smile and a gleam of hunger and lust filled his eyes. He stood a bit straighter, staring her up and down.
The Doctor watched, appalled by the way this stranger burst into his office and almost instantly intimidated the young Miss Tyler. He watched as Rose’s cheeks paled and saw her hand tremble as she slunk away, backing up until she bumped into a wall. The entire scene had only taken a moment to play out, but it sickened him.
If Rose had been nervous around him, she seemed downright afraid of this stranger. Setting the bundle of laundry down, the Doctor faced the young man. “What can I do for you, son?” he asked quietly.
The young man eyed Rose again in a way that he didn’t care for and gave a shrug. “Wonderin’ if you had anything for a cough. My mum’s not feelin’ well.”
The Doctor cleared his throat. “Why not let me come out and check her over? Make sure it’s nothin’ serious. Alright, Mr…?”
James’ face turned dark. “It’s Stone. And we don’t need the added expense. She’ll be fine. Just wanted to know if you had something for a cough.”
The Doctor picked up a bag and rummaged through it, eventually pulling out a small bottle. “Have her take a teaspoon of this every few hours, as she needs it. If the cough doesn’t break up, or isn’t better in a few days, bring her in, or send someone to fetch me.” He was solemn, any hint of a smile gone as he gave him instructions, and finally looked him in the eye. “I mean it, Mr. Stone. If she isn’t better, I want to know about it. Payment can be worked out- doesn’t necessarily have to be money.”
James shrugged and turned away, throwing a small coin on the table. “She’ll be fine.” He paused and looked at Rose. “Can I see you home, then, Rose?” he asked, his face turning to a nasty smile. “Was plannin’ on callin’ on you this afternoon, but a quiet walk home might be even better.”
The Doctor watched as her eyes widened and hands wrung nervously. He stepped in. “No need. I’ll be walking her home- that way you can return to your mother.”
The smile on James’ face faded as he glared at Rose and then the Doctor. He pocketed the glass bottle of medicine and stomped off, angry.
Rose let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding as he walked away.
“He doesn’t seem a nice sort,” the Doctor remarked, trying to hide his contempt.
“He-he’s…” Rose trailed off, trying to think of an excuse that wasn’t an outright lie. “He might just be worried about his mother,” she whispered.
The Doctor raised his eyebrows. “Has a funny way of showing it.” He turned back to Rose. “Just give me a moment to lock up,” he said.
“Doctor, you don’t have to…” she trailed off. She huffed lightly. “I don’t even know your last name,” she admitted. “My mother didn’t tell me.”
He picked up a stethoscope and put it in a black medical bag, latching it securely. “It’s Smith, but nearly everyone just calls me the Doctor. And I’ll not have you walking by yourself when you’re clearly afraid of that man.”
Rose looked, down, licking her lips. “I don’t want to trouble you. ‘M sure you’re very busy. He-he’s courting me. ‘S fine.”
His face was somber. “Courting you? You’re afraid of him. You shouldn’t’ be afraid of someone who’s coming to call, Rose.”
“No,” she hesitated. “Suppose I’m just being silly about the whole thing. ‘M not afraid. Really. I’ll be fine to walk home. I can’t trouble you with this.” The situation was getting out of hand. She didn’t want to be a nuisance.
He shook his head. “I didn’t like his attitude anyway, and it’s no trouble. Not exactly teeming with patients at the moment, am I?”
She gave a short, uncertain smile in return. He picked up the bundle, along with his medical bag, and walked out the door. He set the laundry in the cart and nestled the medical bag on the side, careful so its contents wouldn’t be damaged.
Rose stepped up to push the burdens, but the Doctor shook his head. “Miss Tyler, please. Relax. It does a man good to get a little exercise,” he said calmly. “You’d be doing me a favour if you let me push it back.”
She turned her head to the side, a puzzled expression on her face. “Doctor…” she trailed off.
“This way, is it?” he asked, pushing the cart.
“Yeah. Not far, just a bit of a walk.” She bit her lip and pointed at the medical case as she followed behind him. “Why’d you bring your bag? Have you got a patient out here?” she asked, curious.
He raised his eyebrows. “A good physician is prepared no matter where he goes, Rose. I always take my bag with me- never know when you might need it.”
She nodded.
They continued down the path, the wheel of the cart crunching over the gravel on the path. A few birds sang overhead, hopping from branch to branch. Soft ferns grew in copious numbers in the shade, their long feathery fronds drooping into the path, tickling Rose’s ankles as she walked.
She cleared her throat. “So…you- you’re from the North, then?” she asked.
He grinned. “Salford, originally, but I’ve been all over. Studied all around the world, treated lots of different people, learned lots of different things. Just came back to England a month ago and found that you lot needed a Doctor. So here I am.”
She smiled- a big, genuine smile. “You’ve traveled? What’s it like?” she asked. “I’ve never been outside the village. Of course, I know the woods well, but…what’s the rest of the world like? What are the people like? Are they kind? Does the rest of the world look like England?”
His blue eyes further softened. He’d only known her an hour, but the sincerity and curiosity she displayed warmed his battered soul. In all his travels, he wasn’t sure he’d met someone quite like Rose Tyler, in her simple pink and yellow skirt and blouse. He chose the tales of his travels carefully, wanting Rose to understand the beauty, complexity, and heartache in the world around them.
Rose was silent as they walked, keenly listening to the Doctor’s stories. She was fascinated to learn about his journeys across the Earth, all he’d seen and done. She wondered how a man who traveled so far and had done so much could ever return and take up a mundane life as the doctor in a small village.
It wasn’t long till they reached the Tyler cottage. Rose was sorry their time to chat was at an end, but she’d enjoyed speaking to him. He hadn’t seemed stern at all, as her mum had implicated. He was friendly and kind and just a bit sad. He pushed the cart up to the front of their home and sat it down.
Rose swallowed and looked up at the sky. “Thank you, Doctor Smith,” she said shyly. “’M glad you got to travel and see all those amazin’ places.” She smiled wistfully. “Maybe someday I’ll be able to see something.” She brushed an inchworm off her skirt and sighed, looking up at the cottage. “Maybe.”
“You’re young yet, Miss Tyler. Who knows what adventures are awaiting you?” he grinned.
His tactic seemed to have the opposite effect of what he intended. Her smile went away. “I have an idea, Doctor.”
He considered her plight- young and attractive but no title, no father, and therefore, no dowry. She would be completely dependent upon whoever offered up a marriage proposal…and that person would be the nasty bloke who’d barged into his office.
“Mr. Stone?” he questioned.
She nodded, resigned. “My mother says it’s a good match.” She smiled tightly. “Doubt I’ll be able to travel…I’ll be married and all. But…” she trailed off, “but at least I got to hear about it- even if just for a little bit. It sounds lovely.” She swallowed and forced herself to smile. “Thank you for walking back with me.”
The Doctor closed his eyes. He’d only just met Rose and her prospective fiancé, but he didn’t like it- not one bit. She was already afraid of him- and based solely on the behaviour exhibited today, it was warranted fear. “Rose,” he asked gently, “it is the height of rudeness for me to ask, and you’ve every right to slap me, but, do you want to marry him? Is that what you really want?”
Her face turned pink, and then red. He thought he’d embarrassed her or made her angry, until he heard her sniffle. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears when she started to speak. “It’s- it’s not about what I want. ‘M to do my duty. The Stone family is a little better off. My mum, she wouldn’t have to work so hard.” She recalled her thoughts from earlier and verbalized them. “As much as we would like it to be so, Doctor Smith, life’s not a fairy tale.”
“You’re right, Rose. It’s not a fairytale; but listen to me, alright? It doesn’t have to be a nightmare, either.” He swallowed, formulating a plan. “Come work for me- be my assistant. I’ll need someone to help in my cluttered little office- write down notes, keep track of patients, order the pharmaceuticals...” He paused. “Can you read, Rose? I can teach you if you can’t-”
She shook her head. “I can read Doctor, but…my mum…she’s expectin’ me to do this. I can’t just go running off and leave James. They’re expecting me to-”
“To spend your life with that awful man, allowing him to control and dominate you?” He was calm and very still. “Rose, I’m offering you a chance at your dreams. You don’t have to fall in line and just be someone’s wife. Now, I can’t pay you a lot, but it’ll be enough. Your mum will be comfortable. You’d be able to save up and travel, should you wish. You have an option, Rose. You have a choice.”
Her head was spinning and she felt shaky. The future she’d been expecting, that had all been set in stone (how ironic, she thought bitterly) was now changing. She saw two paths. One path was dark and dim, the colours muted and dull. The other path was uncertain, but it glowed and shimmered, a bright rainbow of this and that- it offered something she hadn’t had in a long time. It offered hope. She nearly choked on the words as she looked up at the Doctor, his blue eyes shining. “Yes,” she said, grinning. “Yes. I will be your assistant.”
His smiled warmed her heart and he placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Rose Tyler, you are going to be absolutely fantastic.”
