who fic: "the Time Rose Ran" (G)

[fannishliss]

title: The Time Rose Ran
author: fannishliss
rating: G
spoilers: none
400 words
a/n: for the ttu rewatch, 1.1 "Rose"

Summary: A blue-eyed devil steals Rose away from the boredom of everyday life.

~?~

Rose was sick of it — sick of the routine, every day, getting up, getting dressed, seeing the same people, making the same rounds. Same bus, same stop, same lunch, same way home.

Mickey was great and all — she loved him, just not like that — he was her oldest friend, and they were always there for each other. Even when there was a match on and he was halfway down the pub already, he'd turn it around and stay with her for an evening in — she only had to say the word.

Things had changed since she'd seen herself reflected in a pair of blue eyes, a devilish handsome face. Strange new desires crept into her head. Things changing — new ideas — she was starving for that. He had dangerous eyes—the way he looked at her, like he could see inside her, like the excitement she craved was waiting wherever he wanted to take her. Maybe he was a little too old for her, maybe he took a few risks. He certainly wasn't the safe choice, that was for sure.

She could just cut loose — why not? What was really holding her back? Her mum was a big girl, she could take care of herself — and Mickey, he'd understand in the long run, wouldn't he? Rose couldn't imagine a world where Mickey wouldn't let her be just who she was.

Rose finished her makeup carefully. She didn't dress up —she knew her casual attitude had caught his eye. She was cool about things. He liked that.

There was a knock at the door. "Mrs. Tyler?"

Rose thrilled when she heard his rough voice in the hall.

"Do come in, Rose is almost ready. Rose!" Her mum's voice rang through the flat. Same old flat, same pink walls. God, she had to do it — she had to get out!

"Jimmy, hey!" Rose said, grabbing up her things and bouncing into the living room.

"Rose," he drawled, angel face and eyes of pure sin. "Ready to go, sweetheart?"

"Yeah," Rose said. Jimmy's hand was light on her back, but she could feel his plans for her in his careful fingers.

"Don't be late," her mum said.

"She'll be back before you know it," Jimmy said, stroking her back, easy.

Not if I can help it, thought Rose, and she danced with the blue-eyed devil into the night.

Comments

[sapphire-child.livejournal.com]

Ooh nice twist there! Totally didn't see that coming :D

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

thanks! glad you liked it!

[bloose09.livejournal.com]

Oh, nicely done. I really liked the revelation at the end! Well done.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much! I love your new icon. :D

I realize this is not technically about the Doctor and Rose -- except that of course it TOTALLY IS.

[sweetevangeline.livejournal.com]

Oooch. That's pretty killer. So that's how it starts...

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

thanks for commenting!

I always think that bit about Jimmy Stone in Rose's backstory is extremely telling about why she takes the risk to go with Nine, even with his mercurial mood swings and all the improprieties he embodies, because I think she's drawn to risk, jeopardy friendly and all ... then too, of course, it comes down to the fact that the Doctor is not just a rakish Bad Boy, he's actually a Hero -- spends all his time thanklessly saving the planet -- so it's a risk that Rose is not so foolish for taking the second time around.

[sweetevangeline.livejournal.com]

Like maybe she learned to tell the different from her time with Jimmy Stone? That, yes, it's okay to run away every now and again because life is boring if you don't but choose wisely? Maybe Jimmy Stone was level one in Running Away From Home. You do it and it's stupid and you realize that it could've worked out better and next time, you'll know. : )

One of the things I've always loved that Rose is always running towards the danger and maybe heading off with the Doctor is just a giant leap in that. If she hadn't, would Rose have become a firefighter? Would she have ended up swimming the Channel because she got bored and saw a documentary about it?

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

yeah, I do think Rose is hero material. :) I also think her time with Jimmy Stone taught her the difference between a BS artist and the real thing. :)

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

thanks very much! It took me a while to get to the heart of my reactions... Then I realized that Jimmy Stone, what he represents as a key facet of Rose's past, and how that relationship inflects both her relationships with Mickey and the Doctor, was what I needed to get out there. Some folks may think he was abusive, but I think he was more of a charming user. Rose seems overly familiar with how you calm someone who's a bit volatile.... But I think she's also quick to forgive because she's learned the difference between sincerity and a silver tongue.

[silverlunarstar.livejournal.com]

You had me at the summary.

Nice twist!

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

yay thanks! Glad you liked it!

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Very clever, had me totally fooled till the end.

But this line - He had dangerous eyes—the way he looked at her, like he could see inside her

I know this story was about Rose and Jimmy but it's how I think of Nine too.

[fannishliss.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for your comment! I've been working on your birthday story which spans all of s1 and is really quite epic!!! It's a combination of Holding Out for a Hero and 80s theme music in general with the idea of the Doctor being a little bit Bad.

There is a depressing soundtrack if you like sad rock? I love sad rock because if anyone has it worse than me, it is rockstars!

In this little story I tried to look at that part of Rose that is impulsive and impractical. Some people call her selfish which is dead wrong. What she really is, is brilliant, and hemmed into a life that's too small for her to breathe in. I see her romance with Jimmy Stone rising up out of that desperation to get out, to make the impractical choice, even though it means cutting ties with the people she loves -- which she's loathe to do even when she knows she should (thus the way she strung Mickey along for so long).

I made Jimmy as a shadow of the Doctor in that risk taking behavior -- because Rose goes along with him a little too easily you know? It seems to me she must've known some chancy, charming risk-taker before the Doctor to get used to reacting so quickly and with such breezy followthrough. Clever RTD as much as told us that guy was Jimmy Stone. :D

Shadow Jimmy will also figure in your Epic!

[emraldeyedauter.livejournal.com]

Yes I think you're right about Jimmy and what Rose is looking for and trying to do to escape her life.

Wheee I'm so excited about this birthday fic lol. Can you tell? I don't mind sad rock. I'm pretty versatile :) Being a teenager in the eighties I love the music and now its called retro lol. Thats what I would have called the Beatles and Elvis etc. Or stuff my parents listened to like Simon and Garfunkel, or The Seekers. I love all thattoo though. I don't get to listen to the radio as often as I'd like these days but some of the modern artists are okay and I find songs I can relate too. Thanks Liss!