004 ▶ it ended with a twist of fate

[soveryhuman]

[ Everyone running around wild and crazy, experiencing horrible visions, having to face up to their fears, their weaknesses- a turn in events that would be unsettling in any place, on any day. Rory is not what one could call an exception to such a turn in events, unfortunately. His general reaction is... to don his fairly recently regained set of Roman active wear.

He's not sure how it wasn't obvious to him so much sooner; a 1950s town, all white picket fences and completely deranged. Being married to Amelia Pond, when that was- when that was impossible. Still had to be another eight-hundred years left before that. None of it was possible. None of it was ever real, and how could he not have known? Getting caught up in the illusion (the incredibly vivid illusion, god) was unforgivable. The Doctor had said he'd probably go mad waiting, but he'd never thought he'd allow himself to.

Rory had a duty to see to- the most important person in the universe to protect. He couldn't let her down, could he? Not again. Keep her safe.

So finding what he was protecting would probably be a good idea.

People are likely to catch him a) wandering through Mayfield like a man possessed, steadily on the search for something, something is of the utmost importance. Or b) it's entirely possible he thinks he's found what he lost and has taken up standing diligently by it for hours on end- he obviously hasn't really, so here's hoping you didn't urgently need to climb that tree, check the mail, drive that car. Alternatively, during option c) there are moments now and again where his expression flickers between curiously blank and abjectly terrified because he would swear something is poking at his mind, telling him what to do and occasionally trying to make him do it- can't be happening, that, not again, he thought that was over with--

Yeah, it's not quite so likely he'll be a grand conversational partner during the final option. ]

Comments

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

Rory.

No.

We're in Mayfield. That... you've been gone from that for a long time. That was an entire universe ago.

[He reaches out slowly to touch Rory's shoulder.]

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

... No, it wasn't. I'm here. Right now, I'm here. [ He doesn't make any move to avoid or protest the hand reaching for him; it's safe to say that's not his main concern for the moment, when the Doctor is busy being so wrong.

How often did that ever seriously happen?

The things he thinks he might remember that haven't happened are just one more in a line of things that haven't happened- and that's fine, it was some kind of mad- mistake, and Rory was pretty sure he'd taken care of it already. But maybe he didn't. ]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor's hand brushes his shoulder. He twists his fingers in the fabric of Rory's cap and tugs, almost like a child.]

No... Rory. This is Mayfield. You're not in Rome anymore. You were never in Rome. I rebooted the universe, you and Amy got married. I was there, remember?

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

[ Ever so cautiously shaking his head. ]

That wasn't- that was a different- you know, it was a thing. In my head. Sometimes people dream about waking up, and then they wake up and they've missed something because they didn't want to, and I'm just lucky that nothing happened to her while I wasn't paying attention- [ He's streamlining towards half-english gibberishy mess and the train is on express. And the Doctor shouldn't know that that even happened, but he's not going to question it because it's the Doctor and he has a habit of finding things he shouldn't. Every time. God, the last thing he's supposed to do is let Amy down, how does this keep happening ]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

[He grips Rory's shoulder, tightly.]

Rory. Amy is fine. Well fine for Mayfield, anyway. You're seeing things, dreaming, hallucinating.

Come on, she's probably worried about you. I'm worried about you.

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

I'm okay. [ Completely.

... Maybe this is just a hallucination too. How is he supposed to tell? Shaking his head a little again.

Worst day. ] I'm not leaving.

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

Rory.

Listen to me.

There's nothing there.

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

[ Don't mind him, just kind of cautiously turning around to look. And Rory immediately has to wonder why he was so afraid to do it. This.... is not much of an Orpheus situation. ]

Doctor, she's right here. [ Isn't she, or- but no, he didn't see her earlier, he couldn't have. It half feels like it. He presses the heel of a palm to his forehead. ]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

Rory! She absolutely is not there. She's blocks away at her house. Trust me, Rory! I'll show you.

[Trying to... tug on Rory's arm and make him move. Which doesn't really work considering the Doctor's rather pathetic physical stature.]

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

[ Watching you tug, bro. Really impressive, man. Totally. And speaking very, very clearly. ]

I'm not leaving. [ Even if there's a chance he's right. He can't just take it. ]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

[Still tugging valiantly!! Until he stops to blow his nose and sniffle.]

Rory, please. You'll catch a cold. End up all stuffed up and snotty like me and then Amy won't want kiss you because she'll find you repulsive.

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

... well, that was rude. [ Just sayin'. :< ]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

It's true! She told me I looked terrible and gross and then hit me with a pillow.

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

[ Okay who could not smile at that, even including tense old Roman Centurions. Geez, he can still remember back when she tried to hit him with a shoe for being too relationship-definitive. ] You expected her not to say something like that?

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

I expected some sympathy!

[Poor Doctor.]

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

Maybe next time, Doctor.

[ Poor, poor thing. ]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

Ugh.

The two of you. Honestly.

[blows his nose.]

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

[ He almost asks about Time Lords getting colds, but at the same time... he doesn't really feel like he doesn't know the answer. ]

At least you've got tissues. [ How sad is life when that's the one thing he's sure he's 100% behind feeling in a conversation. ]

[coolbowtie.livejournal.com]

You gave them to me.

Don't you remember? You dragged me to the store.

[WAVES THE DIRTY TISSUE AT HIM. YOU KNOW. TO HELP HIM REMEMBER.]

[theniwasroman.livejournal.com]

[ GOSH so scandalized by that. Okay, it's more of a moderate offense that isn't very serious. The frown is more from the fact that he kind of. Does remember doing that. ]

...yyyyyyes. [ BI ] How can I remember that?

[ That's basically in the future, and it is preposterous. ]