it's just waiting for you

[expect]

( at this point in rory's life, the sound of the TARDIS landing doesn't even phase him, aside from causing him to take a quick look around to make sure the doctor isn't about to land it on the coffee table for a second time — when he makes out the outline of the police box on the floor, he goes back to what he had been doing, which is: reading a magazine (one of those medical ones that talk about medical techniques and discuss different treatments, because he is, in fact, that boring) and eating a sandwich.

(the sandwich is also boring).

when the TARDIS door bursts open, rory preempts anything the doctor is about to shout with: )

Amy's at her parents for the weekend. It's just me. ( there's no hidden meaning or emotion in this statement; rory just assumes that, at best, the doctor comes here for them both, and will want to try again later. )

Comments

/rolls in circles

[overeducated]

[unfortunately, the idea that Rory kept himself from leaking the natural awe beings felt upon witnessing the Doctor's depth of emotion (for pouting) didn't register a moment in the Time Lord's mind. rather: Rory's standards were set higher than the average creature- thus, perhaps, his remarkable tenacity when it had came to pursuing Amy-- and, so, the Doctor had to work extra hard to impress him.]

[work he was fulling willing to expound on, except Rory outdid himself.]

[... sort of.]

Oh? A film? Grand, okay, love films, brilliant works from brilliant minds, they are-- so, which one?

[plop. the sound effect a Time Lord made on attempting, maybe stupidly, to squeeze himself into a one-person armchair already occupied by one person. (except it wasn't stupidly at all; this was Rory, the Doctor practically glowed from wiggling in, prospect of a film hardly included).]

sobs gently into hands at the doctor

[expect]

( the doctor's progress at squeezing into the chair is, in fact, helped along by rory, who as soon as he realises what the doctor is trying to do puts all his effort into getting out of it. there is a very, very short list of people he is okay with sitting on him, and it starts and ends with amy pond. ) No idea! ( his voice is a little bit high from terror, but he recovers once he's standing up, running his hands along his shirt to smooth it out from the exertion. )

We have DVDs. Or there might be something on. ( he gestures wildly at the cabinet with the DVDs. most of them were probably bought by amy, and it's the usual mix of award winning well known films, a couple of blatant chick flicks, well-known comedies, and the occasional episode set. and, of course, several terrible action films all lined up in a row. that would be rory's contribution. ) Whichever one you'd like.

/buys Rory another car as a bid for forgiveness

[overeducated]

[drat. --- somehow, the Doctor manages not to say so out loud, but if he'd abandoned his progress toward a fantastic sulk before, the energy built up rushed all back at once for three brief and stretched seconds. again, however, Rory (fidgety, jumpy Rory, honestly, couldn't the man sit still?) settled the storm before it rolled out.]

Mmn...

[the DVD cabinet was eyed from his spot on the chair, hands folded in his lap. a similar, dissatisfied look made its way toward the telly. pause.]

... Has the forty-seventh Bond film come out, yet? You know, Ocean 63?

COULDN'T THE MAN SIT STILL punches the doctor with much love and affection

[expect]

No. ( without hesitation. finding himself standing without having intended to, rory fidgets a little bit until he settles for standing with his arms crossed. he wonders what ocean 63 is about. actually: ) What's that one like?

/SWINGS PUNCH INTO CLOSE HUG love and affection is right!

[overeducated]

Ah! Glad you asked. [the smile on his face seemed ready to jump off, it beamed so bright.]

A resistance-led coup d'etat shakes Her Majesty's grip on the lunar colonies. The resistance ends up brainwashing an agent to kill 007 before he lifts off from Mars, but luckily, he smooth-talks her into giving him secrets, instead, and then uses those to...

[A PAUSE.]

... Well, you'd have to watch to find out.

[as if the ending wasn't super obvious. yeah, right.]

tries to escape like a cat from water

[expect]

It doesn't sound like one of the better ones. ( man now he's a little disappointed. he eyes his remaining sandwich briefly, and then opens up his heart and soul to the doctor, prompted by this sharing of action film tropes. ) I have 'Mothra vs Godzilla.'

/latches like a lemur to a tree

[overeducated]

[a moment of consideration (their bonding moment stretching toward succe--)]

[- and then one big frown, forehead wrinkling spectacularly as the consideration fully progressed and came up a loud no, that won't do at all, even if he didn't say so out loud.]

[onward, Rory. what else have you got?]

[... don't ask about his stash in the TARDIS, by the way, please.]

[expect]

What, your life is already too much like a rubbish Japanese film to enjoy seeing it on the telly? ( he's a little

offended

though )

[overeducated]

[snobbily, without much regard for Rory's hints of affrontedness,]

MechaGodzilla's better.

[and not because of the mothership or very elaborate alien involvement, no, not one bit.]

what are these two losers

[expect]

Seriously? You're rooting for the bad guy.

[overeducated]

[huff. c'mon Rory what sort of reasoning was that.]

Godzilla's done worse.

[expect]

You don't know what you're talking about. He's like an anti-hero.

[overeducated]

An anti-hero of anti-care. Think of the number his presence in the local waters has done on the fishing industry.

[expect]

Yeah, but don't people overfish anyway? I saw a news report, we're killing all the tuna or something.

[overeducated]

Well, Godzilla's certainly not helping. Even an anti-hero would help the tuna, I'd say. [a beat.] I help the tuna.

[expect]

… So you're calling yourself an anti-hero? ( rory is very, very good at keeping a straight face, but this is pushing it a little bit. )

[overeducated]

They are in fashion lately, aren't they? [as he tugged his bowtie straight and sat more on the edge of his seat.] I've the roguish good looks, the tragic past, the amazing hair...

[expect]

You're not an anti hero. ( flatly. if he was feeling more generous — and he's not — he'd say 'you're just a straight up good guy,' but the comments on the hair and looks are too much no matter how the doctor classifies himself.

rory sinks down onto the sofa, arms resting casually on his knees. ) And you're weird looking.

[overeducated]

[mouth opens, closes, exhale huffing out, inhale sucking in. with determination,]

I beg to differ. I-- ... I'm weird looking?

[no, he was not miming a large nose. no, not at all. that would be rude. (yes, he was).]

[expect]

Oi, ( rory says, frowning all offended; he's not really, but it's kind of the principle of the matter. you don't see him miming a chin, or a lack of eyebrows. but then to show he's not offended: ) I'm normal.

[overeducated]

[with a final sniff (not at all pointed, honest, maybe, kind of) and quick thumb-flick at his nose, he's up and moving again, radiating the precise aura of an affronted rooster.]

Which is all very well and good, [stately, though not sage in the least,] but I'm handsome.

[expect]

No, ( rory says, with emphasis, no, that can't be the case. he watches the doctor incredulously, but also sort of thinks about it. he looks less weird in motion than sitting still, but that might just be because the doctor sitting still is wrong; if he's to be honest, he'll admit a certain fondness for the doctor's appearance, chin and ears and all; it's true, you stop noticing the flaws in the people you love.

but he's still ridiculous. and has way too big a head — in more than one way. ) Unless we're talking about on an alien planet with no sense of aesthetics.

[overeducated]

[one hand busily and ironically pushing his bangs back (only for them to fall forward anyway), one foot raises and lowers, the other mirroring it, a jumble of quick motions and maybe a bit of fluster, Rory was eying him an awful lot--]

[-- which would've made sense if his conclusion made sense, but it didn't!]

I've been to an aline planet with no sense of aesthetics. They thought I was charming. [petulant while attempting not to be, hands pulling his jacket's hem straight, that impressive chin sticking out just a tad. but before anything childish could be said, he whips his attention to the television, demand huffy.] What are we going to watch, exactly? Have you anything Disney? Lilo & Stitch's always good.

[... this wasn't to say Rory offended him. it would've taken much more than fly-away comments about appearance, of all things, to do that. it'd been banter, plain and simple, and if there was one thing he'd always count on Rory for, it'd be fantastic banter.]

[expect]

How old do you think we are? ( rory asks, resigned, and sinking back against the sofa with a definite air of sulking dramatically. he's pretty used to abrupt changes of subject by now, however, and crosses his arms. sarcasm is the easiest response, and one he enjoys, even if he's fairly radiating i can't believe you. ) Actually, don't answer that, because you're older and asking if we have Disney movies.

[overeducated]

I take that as a no. Hmm.

[there's no keeping from sounding disappointed there. well, no matter. taking the distraction bait,]

You're... twenty five or so, aren't you? You were both married so young. ['so young' sounding like a wistful 'too young,' and if Rory had any thought about the Doctor's older age, it might've suddenly been emphasized to the point of second-hand embarrassment. but then, that was usual, too.]