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.

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"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."

Rain frowned again. "The TARDIS? Mat did. I think. He was sick and I sang to him. And the dance was... well, not as frightening as I thought it would be. With all the people, you know? But... why would a place be happy? Is it magic, maybe?"

"It's not magic, Rain, the TARDIS is a living thing, sort of like this forest. And sentient to a certain extent as well."

That needed a few moments of consideration.

Rain tilted her head, thinking about it, then smiled. "I should tell it I'm sorry then. For being so rude and not even saying hello. Someone should have told me. I know all the living things - trees and rocks and birds and animals and everything - they should all be greeted and honored. But I never thought a big blue... box thing that's bigger inside than out was alive, too."

"Not many people do, we don't mention it much. Most people get more nervous when they discover that the thing they've been traveling in isn't quite the thing they thought it was."

Something occurred to Romana, "I don't think it took offense, but if you'd like another visit it can certainly be arranged. Besides, I've started a greenhouse of sorts, with plants from my home, and I'd like to show it to you if you're interested."

Rain listened seriously, nodding, then beamed. "Oh, I would love to go and explain to it and especially I'd love to see the plants!"

"We'll make sure to do that soon, I've found several items in the Underground shops, and with what Tony's given me, it's quite a collection. A little bit of my home in this place has gone quite a way."

Romana nibbled on some of the crackers Rain had brought. "What's in the pack, Rain, more things for the picnic?"

Rain shook her head. "Oh no, it's everything I own. Well, except for the house things and a heavy set of clothes I keep at the Library in case Iron Man takes me flying. I always have it with me."

And it was. A few pairs of underwear, a few shirts, another pair of jeans, a fleece blanket, a journal and pen, the bunny Mat gave her, her batteries and a few other odds and ends meaningful only to Rain herself.

"Oh, and Drop, but he's sort of a house thing."

"Drop?" Romana couldn't hazard a guess as to what that was.

Rain beamed again, though she also blushed a little. "Tony made him for me. For my birthday. He's a bird. A mechanical one and ever so wonderful!"

"Well that certainly sounds like something he'd do. You'll have to show him off when we go back."

Romana caught the blush, but only barely, and began to wonder if perhaps that had something to do with the girl's nervousness this day.

Rain nodded, perching on the rock to nibble on one of the small cakes Romana had brought along. "I will. I don't always bring him with me because I'm afraid he'll get hurt. Which is silly, because I know Tony would have made him strong enough to be safe, but I get scared anyway."

She looked over at Romana ruefully. "My brain isn't always quite right. I'm a little broken."

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