tampered | Log: Ongoing

Log: Ongoing

When; Wednesday
Rating; G to PG
Characters; Rain

lady_wandering
Summary; Rain and Romana have a picnic.
Log;

It was a lovely day for a picnic. Rain knew that Romana had said she would bring a picnic lunch, but she couldn't help but gather together some fruits and crackers and cheese to bring along as well. She was a bit nervous about meeting her. Romana seemed to be becoming very important to Tony and Rain remembered how unhappy Cat had been about Rain.

Still, she was eager to show off her house and hoped that all went well.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Rain's directions had been extremely accurate and Romana found her way to the forest home with out any difficulty. Not immediately seeing anyone, she called out hesitantly, "Rain?"

She really wasn't sure what to expect, Tony's comments about the young woman had been vague and aside from the fact that he cared for her greatly, Romana knew very little about the person she was about to meet.

Rain's home (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v188/Maisfeeka/RainsHomedrawing.jpg) was built right into the side of a hill and very hard to see, so she hurried out quickly when she heard the other woman. "Romana? Welcome to my home!"

Romana took in the view of the home, it really was spectacular and she mentally listed architectural skill to the impressive list of Tony's skills.

"This looks absolutely beautiful, Rain. And so very different from the City, or even the TARDIS."

"I get scared inside real buildings - if I'm there for a long time. I can't sleep in them really," Rain admitted.

"That's a curious phobia to have, but I'm sure this is more than adequate for your needs, then."

Romana gestured to the modest basket she carried, "Where would you like me to set our lunch while you show me around?"

Rain brought her into the house, gesturing to the small table in the kitchen. "You can set it there if you'd like. It's a tiny house, but I don't need much. I never ever had even this much ever before."

The heat seemed to radiate up from the floor, warming the house, and the trees and clouds could easily be seen through the front wall and the roof.

"It makes me so happy. Almost just like being outside!"

Romana followed the young woman's gaze upward and took in the splendid view. Beautiful on a day like this, but what must it be like in a storm?

"It really is, isn't it?"

"Oh, I don't mind the storms," Rain said, oblivious to the fact that Romana hadn't said that part out loud. "It's crazy and wild, but I like that. It makes me feel safer somehow."

Now that was certainly curious, Tony hadn't mentioned Rain was telepathic, but Romana knew she hadn't said the part about the storms out loud. Letting it go, but making a note to try and catch Rain's touch the next time it brushed her mind, Romana simply continued the conversation.

"Well, knowing Tony, I'm certain you're perfectly safe."

Rain nodded seriously. "He worries about me. Watches out for me all the time. I try to tell him I'm okay that I'm so much safer here than I ever was before, but he still worries."

She ducked her head a little. "I kind of like it."

"I think he's incapable of not worrying about the people he cares for, Rain."

Romana considered for a moment, wondering what Rain's life before had been like that the City was a haven in comparison. She decided not to ask, no doubt it would stir bad memories and the day was too beautiful for that. Instead she keeps her tone light.

"It is nice, to be cared for and worried about, isn't it?"

"I never was before. Not that I remember," Rain said wistfully. "But Tony and Iron Man and Mat.. they do. And it makes me feel... special, maybe?"

Romana noted the separation of Iron Man and Tony in Rain's comment, unsure it it had significance.

"You are special, Rain. In someways everyone is, and everyone deserves to be cared for."

Again, Romana wondered about Rain's home, but decided to change the subject.

"Now, where did you want to have lunch?

Rain beamed. "Oh, there's a beautiful place, out by the river. With trees and the sky always looks so blue there!"

She picked up the small collection of things she's prepared and a few blankets, her backpack that she was never without on her back. "Come on, I'll show you!"

Romana quickly gathered back up her basket and set out after her enthusiastic guide.

Rain didn't make much noise as she moved through the woods - not with her feet anyway. But she called casual greetings to the birds that called overhead and from the trees and stopped to point out rabbit and deer prints along the way.

It wasn't too long before they reached a clearing near a small river. A few large sunwarmed rocks stood next to it and the trees leaned in companionably.

"Here," Rain said happily, spreading out a blanket under a tree and setting her food stuffs and backpack on it before hopping up onto a rock to peer up at the sky. "Oh yes, look at the sky!"

The walk was an experience in and of itsef as Romana watched Rain travel through the wood. Every foot placement precise and as natural as she breathed, every greeting called out completely genuine.

Romana gave a smile at the beauty of the clearing, and quickly moved to help Rain with the blanket and laughing softly when the young woman bounded over to the rocks almost as soon as Romana caught up.

"Yes, it is lovely - we're lucky it's not supposed to rain."

"Oh, Rain's lovely too," she said with a grin. "But it's not as fun to sit out in it when it's still this cold. But in the summer? Oh, I love it. And well, it's sort of me, you know."

"I imagine it is. I've always been a more indoors-type person myself, but this is quite agreeable."

Romana began to unpack the basket, some small sandwiches, cakes, fruits and cheeses. Small things that could be easily eaten by hand.

Rain tilted her head, watching her curiously. "What's it like? Being an indoors person. You don't get scared or feel like, like your heart will burst from fear and the walls will come in or that the bad men will come in and you'll be trapped?"

There was no sound of distress in Rain's voice or demeanor, just genuine wonderment.

Romana had to fight to keep her shock from showing on her face - was that why she feared the indoors? Had she been...hunted? And the way she seemed to causally accept it... She mentally shook herself and put a smile on her face to answer.

"...No, but I suppose it's because I love the things we keep indoors so much. Books, classes, equipment...when I was young I used you stay up very late, reading, or working on something for my Academy Masters, and I would have to curl up in a small room with a light because I was supposed to be asleep. Those are happy memories for me, creating things, taking them apart again to see how they work. But they're indoor things."

Rain shook her head. "No, no, the bad man killed my mother and I was only safe outside in the woods. My mother yelled for me to go and hide and never come in and I didn't. I stayed in the woods for 2 days and nights till they found me."

Usually she was far more careful about not Listening or at least aware when she had, but today she was so happy and nervous and everything that it didn't register.

She smiled at Romana. "I love books. I think that's why I don't mind being inside in the Library. Well, that and it's so big with lots of places to hide and lots of doors. Sometimes I'd wrap a few up carefully in plastic and keep them in my backpack so I could read them. Or hide them inside an empty building so I could sneak in and get one when I wanted. I didn't do much school, though and I had to be careful, so so careful."

And there it was, the tiniest brush against her mind, there and gone almost before Romana could notice it - and Rain obviously didn't realize it at all. Opening her mind a bit more, Romana followed the thought back, just skimming across the surface.

What she found was at once terribly sad, and yet very encouraging. Such strength to come out of something so hard. She quickly withdrew.

"Then we have that in common, our love of books. The TARDIS has a splendid Library, I think you might like it." Nonchalantly, Romana took a chance and added, "And you neededn't be nervous about a thing, you have nothing to worry about."

Rain felt... something... and frowned for a moment before smiling again at Romana. "I was in the TARDIS before. Mat lived there for a while and there was a party and... is it so obvious I'm nervous? I'm trying not to be, really."

Smiling to reassure Rain, Romana said, "It's probably not noticeable to most people, Rain, but under certain circumstances I can be very observant. Today must be one of those days."

Rain had noticed, not unsurprising given the innate and wild nature of her talent, and Romana decided not to try again until she'd had a chance to talk to the girl about her gifts. It wasn't unheard of in humans, but it was rare and occasionally dangerous.

"I'm sure the TARDIS must have enjoyed the visits."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject