( video )

[badwolfs]

[ Rose Tyler is no stranger to portal jumping, accustomed to blinking and finding herself in another world, another universe, another plane of existence. Home, or her surrogate home, as she's come to think of it, is only a place to dust off her shoes before the next jump. Parallel Earths and alien fields and unfamiliar constellations up above are old hat now.

But Wonderland? The incredulous expression on her face is nearly amused, brown eyes warm and curious as she blinks into the camera, fingers raking lightly through dyed golden hair. Headquarters is going to get an earful about jumbled up cannon coordinates when she gets back. Still, she can't help but be a little fascinated by it all, despite the kink in all of her grand plans, her search for that someone she'll never be able to let go of, not ever. ]

's real, then? The Queen of Hearts and all that. I mean, it's a bit brilliant, really and I'm all about a good cuppa with a mad man every now and then but this isn't exactly what I was aiming for, y'know? The way out... still through the rabbit hole, or is that too easy?

[ There's a brief, uncertain pause, her teeth edging into her lower lip thoughtfully before she carries on, giving in to the other nagging question nearly always on her mind. ]

While I have you... does anyone here know the Doctor?

Comments

[alwaysnext]

[Luke's finally done it. Bar the delightful, gun-toting Ms Cooper, his Children of Time collection is completed with 'blonde girl I saw on a video screen once for six seconds'. Luckily, Luke has perfect recall, and after being prompted by the Doctor's name, he attacks this video with a wild grin. Much like he did the night they'd defeated the Daleks, except five years older and covered in Urban Outfitters.]

Oh, might have heard his name around once or twice.

[badwolfs]

[ She s surprised she can place his face but not his name, squinting briefly but unable to return a smile so big he looks like he just met Father Christmas and not a not-so-run-of-the-mill girl from the Powell Estate. Bonus points for him knowing the Doctor, though, and she leans towards the screen with interest. ]

Yeah? Only heard his name, or...?

[alwaysnext]

Well, he came to my mum's wedding. Sarah Jane Smith?

[His enthusiasm ebbs. Luke doesn't know who this woman is, so he doesn't know if she even knew his mum or was just there along for the ride. And everyone's pulled from different timelines, so could be they haven't even met yet, or she's from so far in the future, she's forgotten all about it.]

I don't know if you know her? But you were there on the TARDIS, when she was. During the Dalek thing? I remember you.

[badwolfs]

[ Bingo. Rose's face lights up and she grins, pointing at the screen. ] You're Sarah Jane's son! But I haven't-- [ --been on the TARDIS with Sarah Jane, as far as she knows, though she did see the pair of them In the conference call with the Doctor just before she'd arrived in Wonderland. She lets that be for a moment. ]

Blimey, I bet you're as brilliant as your mum is.

[oncefairytale]

[As always, the word Doctor catches her attention. And while there was a time it might have put her on edge, she's calmer about it now. Others make her curious. They've all seen things, done things, been places. Places she hasn't yet and there's still so much for her to learn. So she takes a friendly approach.]

Hate to be the one to break it to you, but this time it's a one way trip. Looks beautiful, but there's always a catch, isn't there?

[She pauses to study Rose before asking.]

Are you another one, then? One of his [She puts a special emphasis on the next word.] companions?

[badwolfs]

There's always a way out too, right? [ There has to be, there are too many things she has left to do. That train of thought is derailed for now, however, when this pretty redhead with a familiar Scottish lilt in her voice seems to know more than Rose initially anticipates. She has a feeling she's In for plenty more surprises in this place. ]

I... well, yeah. S'pose that's a good word for it. At least, I used to be. [ Something about that still stings to say, biting the inside of her cheek quietly as she mulls over a few questions of her own. ] How'd you know?

[oncefairytale]

[Amy figures there is plenty of time to tell her about Wonderland later. She's much more curious about Rose and the Doctor. Besides, a plan that's been percolating in the back of her mind is starting to gain momentum. A welcome party would be the perfect guise to get some good gossip on the Doctor.

She tilts her head at "used to be." Since learning that Clara would eventually replace her, she's wondered how it all works. Does the Doctor kick you out or do you do decide to leave? Martha and Donna weren't dead so that probably wasn't what happened to Martha. And she hopes to herself.]

I might be one myself. That and I've met a few others. You seem to fit the bill. [Curious, not freaked out, asking about the Doctor.] And used to be? Why used to be? What happened, then?

video

[bossily]

It feels real. Which makes it real enough, I suppose.

[Hello there, new arrival. Clara is quite curious about this one, given the timing of the Doctor showing up and everything.]

No rabbit holes that I've found, though. And I've been here for months.

[She frowns a bit as she addresses the Doctor part, hesitating in adding it on. But she knows she needs to, so it gets blurted out.]

Also, I know the Doctor. From home. He -

[A pause, and her head tips off to the side a bit.]

You travel with him too, then?

video

[badwolfs]

[ As usual, the Dpctor seems to be the word of the day and Rose is growing more and more curious by the minute, catching that frown, that pause, before her eyebrows lift and she gives a brief nod. ]

I did, yeah. A few years back, but we got separated. Pesky parallel worlds and all that. [ The childish jealousy she may have felt as a teenager is long since past, replaced with gratitude when hearing he isn't alone. It's really the last thing Rose would ever want, and she gives Clara a warm smile now. ] You as well, eh? Honestly, that man. Really has a harem of pretty girls all around the universe, doesn't he.

video

[bossily]

[That last part gets her to laugh, and she nods in agreement.]

He likes to think he does, but really it's only a handful of us that'll put up with him.

[She leans in close to her device, as if they're conspiring with one another. Her voice drops to a playful whisper.]

He couldn't handle an entire harem of pretty girls across time and space, anyway. So doesn't have it in him.

[supertemp]

Rose! [Donna beams at her over the communicator. Hopefully she knows her this time around.] Afraid you're going to have a bit more trouble getting out than that, but you've got friends here to make it a bit easier, yeah?

[badwolfs]

[ Finally, a face she really knows, and it just so happens to be the most important woman in the universe. She's all smiles now, cheeks nearly hurting as she waves brightly back at Donna, grateful this time that she can see and hear her. ]

Donna Noble, it's you! Was just with your mum and grandad, he's brilliant, isn't he? [ There's a certain tone of relief in her voice, a bit of tension easing from her shoulders as she leans closer to the screen. ] Where are you? Last thing I knew, I was trying to jump to your location and ended up— well. Here.

[supertemp]

Sounds like you're just a bit behind me, then, timeline-wise. [Best not to mention everything that happens after that, she thinks - not right now, anyway.] Not terribly far, though! Only an hour or two. This place is weird, people here turn up from all sorts of places and times. Not much weirder than anything you see with the Doctor, of course. [She gives Rose a conspiratorial wink and a grin.]

[Audio]

[denary]

[The sight of Rose sends his hearts into his throats, and he clutches the device in both hands, trying to gather up some bit of control over his emotions. Even when he does, his voice breaks over her name, and he has to swallow down his emotions before continuing. ]

Rose. Where are you.

audio;

[badwolfs]

[ She'd know that voice anywhere in the world, in the galaxy, in the universe really and this time, he can hear her, even if the screen is black for now. At first, he'll only hear her audible gasp, a brief silent and hesitant moment, daring to hope again, and then — ]

Doctor. It's me, I came to find you. Where are you?

audio;

[denary]

[He's stumbling, tripping over a chair in his intensity to get out of the Library. She shouldn't be here. He was certain he'd never see her again, locked away in that parallel world with his Metacrisis. He's so happy his hearts are going to burst, and he can't control the giddiness bubbling up inside of him.]

The Library. Rose. Do you see the mansion? Head there. I'll find you.

( video )

[ahousedivided]

[ so

many

english people.

w h y.

He's too fanny flustered to even note that, at least this time, it's a pretty girl coming in and not some haughty dandy with a stuck lodged up his ass. Or more Crowleys. ]

Does everyone on that frickin' island know this guy?!

[ Mostly he's just mad that this apparent ~otherworldly hero~ is constantly prancing around England's shitty house and not his own glorious golden shores. But wow, what a nice introduction, America. Just go ahead and pout at the perfectly nice newcomer this will get you places. ]

video.

[badwolfs]

[ That outburst has Rose staring. And staring some more. And then she bursts out laughing, one arm slung across her stomach as she waves a hand at this obviously outraged American. ]

Sorry, mate. Really I am. You have no idea, though, he's pretty well known throughout... the universe.

video.

[ahousedivided]

[ Her laughter may as well be the whole universe laughing at him. Apparently this Doctor is some huge deal and he's English. There is no justice in this world, America decides. Wheerever, whenever, however the Doctor is from, it is clearly a terrible reality that he doesn't want to face.

And yet he still finds himself feeling ridiculously jealous for reasons he can't quite explain. Oh wait, no, he can explain it quite well through animated, frustrated bitching. ]

Then why haven't I heard of him?! No, better question, why ain't he visiting me all the time?! I'm so much better than England in every respect! Land, people, personality, looks! What's England got that I don't? Pollution worse than Five Points? Complete lack of sunshine? Caterpillar eyebrows?! Of all the places to go on Earth and he chooses ENGLAND?!

[ He's practically screeching by the end of it. This is the most unreasonable fit he's thrown thus far. It'd be embarrassing if America had any sense of dignity to begin with.

Poor Rose. First day on another world and she gets an American psychopath throwing a tantrum like a toddler. ]

[video]

[selfrespecting]

[In a way, this shouldn't be a surprise at all. Wherever the Doctor goes, Rose should follow. That's always how Martha had heard it, anyway.

Of course, it hadn't worked out that way in reality, as a whole universe had ended up separating them. But it's well established that Wonderland has no consideration for what world or universe a person might be from. This may be the one and only place that the Doctor and Rose could be in the same place at the same time.

This isn't the first time that Rose has been here, but that first time had been very brief, and so they hadn't really had chance to chat.

Which means that it's still an intimidating thing for Martha to even speak to Rose at all, because the Doctor himself has built her so much that actually being face-to-face (or near enough, at least) with the real thing is still a bit dizzying. Not that they hadn't interacted on the TARDIS after defeating the Daleks, but that had been rather limited.

Martha's hoping that this time around, Rose will actually remember her, but there's only one way to find out.]

I do know him, in fact. He just got here yesterday. Seems like not much can keep you two apart, yeah? [Martha's smiling, because honestly, she's happy for them. This is what they both wanted, and at least Wonderland can be good for one thing.]

video.

[badwolfs]

[ While they haven't properly met, of course, Rose knows full well who Martha Jones is and has a lot to thank her for, and when her face appears on the screen, she's greeted with nothing but a big smile. There was definitely a time knowing he'd traveled with such a smart, lovely woman would have been threatening, probably evoking a green monster or two, but she's a far cry from the nineteen year old he left in the beach in Bad Wolf Bay. ]

You would know him, wouldn't you. [ Rose isn't entirely sure if Martha knows who she is in return, but it sure sounds like she has a good idea, looking a bit sheepish now. ] Hello, Martha. Was about to introduce myself, but it seems my reputation precedes me. Hopefully it's all good things.

video.

[selfrespecting]

[That smile almost instantly puts Martha at ease, because it's wide and bright and that probably means that everything is just fine between them. Rose doesn't have any confusion or suspicion in her gaze.

On the other hand, it looks like as far as Rose is concerned, they haven't actually met yet. But she's heard of her, which is a step up from the last time she was here. They can definitely work with that.

Martha returns the smile and nods.] Of course! All wonderful things. Actually, in the time I'm from, we've already met. Rode in the TARDIS together and everything.

[video]

[you_dont_work_alone]

You'll think it less brilliant the longer you're stuck here.

[video]

[badwolfs]

I've gathered as much. Harder to admire the view when you're stuck with it...

[video]

[you_dont_work_alone]

It certainly is. I guess there's nothing wrong with enjoying it for a bit, though.