- forty-second year waiting -

[nurse_boy]

[Halloween, again. His second one here. Rory's found the sweets and the note left at their door and brought it inside, and taken more pleasure than strictly necessary in being able to actually eat it. He doesn't know if the castle does something different for Halloween every year, but he's finding this to be much more agreeable than what happened

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[cricketycricket]

[quietly]

I remember, yes. ... Alright, then, Rory?

[nurse_boy]

[he supposes this Doctor would, if he was the fifth version and his own is six more down the line]

I'm--I'm alright.

[sort of]

How've you been, Doctor?

[cricketycricket]

Getting on. ... Glad to not be quite as busy as I was, that's for certain. [there are different kinds of busy, after all, and this was not the fun sort, running around dealing with Riful and Legato and all]

((OOC: OMG. You need to see this.))

[nurse_boy]

[is there ever 'fun' busy at Paradisa? Rory doesn't think so]

Good to hear, Doctor. Everyone needs, um, a break. From things. Even though they never stop here.

[small sigh] I know Amy and I haven't been around much. I guess we're trying to lie low for a little while because of... well, because of a lot of things really.

((O_O IT'S FULL OF STARS here's one for you))

[cricketycricket]

[OF COURSE THERE IS. it generally involves tinkering, snarking at things, and running - or any combination of the three. also, perhaps, biscuits.]

I know there's a lot of, ah ... news from home that needed acclimating to. And that's entirely understandable. ... And besides, it means neither of you are getting into trouble by mucking about.

[that is Old High Gallifreyan for "I've missed you"]

[nurse_boy]

[he's still learning that language, unfortunately, so it just parses literally]

Hey, I don't muck about, that's Amy--

[cuts himself off before chuckling quietly, but there's little humor in it]

Oh. Did the Doctor--mine--did he tell you about it, then?

[cricketycricket]

Actually, as a matter of fact .... River did. [he says that somewhat carefully, as he's not sure how Rory will take that particular slant on the information]

[nurse_boy]

[silence for a short moment]

Oh, really? River? What... how much did she say?

[cricketycricket]

That, eventually, she's my wife. ... And you're her parents. I should think that's enough, all told ... and you didn't know either, did you?

[that's not really too much of a question - mostly just one of courtesy. how COULD they have known?]

[nurse_boy]

[a bit more silence. Then, quietly:]

No. No, not until... until we lost her. Lost--Melody.

[it's obviously still a very painful thing for him to talk about]

It's the last thing I remember happening before coming back here. Amy... she hasn't lived any of it yet. She's, um... she's not taking it very well.

[cricketycricket]

[he really doesn't know what to say to any of this - especially since he feels that, in part, it isn't his place. River's made it plain that he isn't Her Doctor, so it stands to reason that he isn't theirs, either, and ... well, honestly, he can respect that. especially after some of the things he's been through, here.

he can still be genuine, though]

I'm sorry, Rory. We don't have to talk about it if you'd rather not...

[nurse_boy]

[as far as Rory is concerned, the Doctor is the Doctor, no matter what form he comes in--and if he had to be honest he thinks he might actually prefer this one a bit more over the one he actually traveled with, because his temperament is more sedate, less manic. More like his own]

No, no, it's--it's okay. I suppose. Not talking about it, that's sort of like hiding it, yeah? Acting like it didn't happen. And it did... she is my daughter.

[it's perhaps the first time he's really said it out loud; as a result his voice is tinged with a hint of awe]

River's my daughter.

oh god unexpected tl;dr

[cricketycricket]

[the fact that Rory is opening up to him like this, well... he's never quite sure what to do.when this happens. on the one hand, humans are so much more tied to their emotions ... so much more empathetic, and brilliant in that regard, despite it setting them apart from Time Lords. it's part of why he's fond of them: they remind him of things he might miss. it does, however, make him a rubbish counselor. on the other hand, he knows what it is to have a family, and that sudden realization that comes with it - the moment of jaw-dropping clarity when your perception shifts. true, it was centuries ago.... but he remembers how it was with Susan's mother when she was born. Rory must be thinking a thousand things at once, so he'll lend him the benefit of a Time Lord's detachment and give him a steady, practical thought, something rooted in their collective present]

Yes... and I should think you've every reason to be proud of her, despite how difficult this all must be.

it's okay! :) also unexpected longterm LJ fail gdit

[nurse_boy]

[he considers this for a moment]

I think... I think I am proud of her. [a pause, and then with more certainty:] Yeah, I'm proud of her. I think every parent must want their child to grow up to be confident and self-sufficient and happy, right? Make something of themselves? And River, she--she's done all of that. [another pause] Not in a way I could have ever imagined or anticipated, but... she has. [a short, quiet, bittersweet laugh] It wouldn't be much fair of me to push my own expectation of those things on her when I haven't even been there for most of her life.

It's my fault... always happens when I start a cool loss...

[cricketycricket]

Yes, but I think it may matter just as much that you can be here with her, now... I wouldn't worry too much. You're certainly a lot wiser than you give yourself credit for.

I spoke too soon on LJ -_-

[nurse_boy]

[have an awkward laugh now]

I dunno about that. Been called a lot of things, but 'wise' was never one of them.