(Untitled)

[theresme]

Rose, to recover from not being able to breathe practically in those tight clothes, is wearing loose sweats and a t-shirt. Previously, she slept for about fifteen straight hours, and she's currently devouring a rather large plate of chips like there's no tomorrow.

She's glad as hell that the music is gone. And she's keeping an eye out for a

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[smithnjones]

Martha's waking up on the couch in PJs. She tried to make it to her room, but failed.

She looks tired and worn and when she sees who's, also, down here she grimaces, painfully.

"Hey..." Martha sits up, keeping her limbs close to her body. The memories of the last few days leave her feeling rather overexposed, constantly. Awkward.

[theresme]

Rose doesn't look any less awkward than Martha. Probably more, since Martha's somewhat better at covering things.

"Hey," she says, pulling in on herself a bit.

Sayitsayitsayitsayit--

"Look, I'm really sorry," she blurts. "I was awful to you and I'm really sorry."

[smithnjones]

Somehow Rose looking so awkward and vulnerable, makes it easier for Martha to take on the calm role, to comfort instead of pulling them both into a giant awkward spiral.

"No, don't apologize."

Martha gives her the serious look, but there's softness in her gaze too.

A sweet kind of understanding that seems to say it's all right.

"It wasn't you, Rose. I understand that. You have nothing to be sorry for. Unless you'll let me apologize for being a complete and utter skank and throwing myself on you." She makes a face in remembrance of the way she was.

[theresme]

Rose grimaces. "Don't apologize for that. At least it wasn't actually you. I've done that, completely of my own free will."

Granted, she was 16 and "in love" at the time, and he treated her... well, pretty much exactly how she and Jack treated Martha.

It wasn't pretty.

[smithnjones]

Martha sends her an understanding look and nods. "I used to be kind of like that. Or at least the men I was with thought I was and I took whatever they gave me. Thinking that's all there was to it."

"You realize you're better than that now, don't you?" She smiles, genuinely at Rose.

It's easier to think good of Rose when she has more to associate the woman with than the girl the Doctor can't quit pining over.

[theresme]

Rose takes a couple deep breaths, then smiles a little. "My mum wouldn't let me get away with not, after Jimmy... Left me with a broken heart and 800 pounds in debt just after I turned 17. I shaped up. Got a boy who actually cared."

Ah, Mickey. She doesn't love him, but... he's still her best mate.

[smithnjones]

"Boys who actually care are nice," Martha says, softly, and thinks up an Irish Coffee, because it seems appropriate if they're going to talk about boys.

As long as they don't talk about the Doctor.

"Can't believe that bastard left you 800 pounds in debt. Typical male."

[theresme]

She makes a face. "That's part of why I feel so bad about this whole thing. He treated me exactly like I... I mean, I know it wasn't really me or you, but..."

She shakes her head. "Anyway, Mickey's a sweetheart. Been my best mate since we were kids."

[smithnjones]

"Yeah," Martha grimaces at the thought of that being real for anyone, "Sorry."

She nods, sipping at her drink with a small smile. "That's sweet. Best mates and then each other's sweethearts. I haven't exactly managed to keep a friend that long. Unless my sister counts, but we're bickering more often than not and she's forced to spend time with me. Blood relations 'n all."

[theresme]

Rose laughs a bit. "You have a sister? That must be brilliant. What's she like?"

Rose never had any siblings. Or, well, any family but her mum and extended relations.

[smithnjones]

"Yeah." Martha's smile brightens. "And a brother. Both older than I am. Both royal pains in the arse when they want to be. Just like the whole family. I tend to be the mediator in big family get togethers, but... y'know, I wouldn't trade them for anything."

[theresme]

"Must've been nice, growing up," Rose says, a little wistfully. "It was just me and Mum... well, and Mickey, and his grandmother, but..."

[smithnjones]

"Yeah. I was really lucky. Even with Dad cheating on Mum and them splitting. Just made the family gathering's bigger 'n louder when dad's mistress joined in."

[theresme]

"What's he like?" Rose asks, a little too eagerly. "Your dad, what's he like?"

She's met her dad, yeah, but she never got a chance to grow up with him.

[smithnjones]

"Dunno really." Martha shrugs a little, thinking of how to explain it. "Overly protective, but not as much as Mum. Jokes a lot. Likes to be your friend. Dad was never much for disciplining, Mum always had to do that. One of the things they fought about a lot. He liked all those ruddy boy things that Tish and I didn't have much interest in, but I can remember him sittin' down for a tea party with us. Puttin' on a dress-up hat 'n everything. He's a good dad."

[theresme]

"Sounds brilliant," Rose sighs wistfully. "I wish I could meet him sometime. Can't, though. Timelines and stuff."

Ah well. Probably for the best.