Yes. [But when she sees Rose is concerned, she shakes her head.] No. Not now-- was. It-- she-- we're dead now. Not all, the body though. Dead and very resilient now. But with some... limitations.

That's got to be odd. Limitations?

Oh yes. Of course there is the relative immobility. And I can't-- can't think the same. I don't see quite so well. In here. [She places two fingers against each temple, indicating her mind.]

[She furrows her brow a moment, her face going sympathetic. She can't relate, not really but she does remember all the seeing. Only it hurt her. Thankfully TARDIS doesn't seem to have that problem now.]

That's ones got to be as odd as the immobility.

[She nods.]

It's a bit like thinking through a kaleidoscope with a cracked lens. The pieces are split, but what's more, they're irregular so no algorithm can piece them back how they ought to go. Sometimes I know what I'm seeing. But only sometimes. The glass has to be in just the right place.

Oi. Is it because of bein' in a human body or bein' stuck here. The Doctor mentioned it might be severed from all the other time points here.

[This takes a bit of thought.]

The kaleidoscope is from the body. The cracks came when I arrived here.

He's right. From what I can tell. Everywhere else there are countless continuous adjacent sequences, and here nearly all of them are missing-- well, not missing, I suspect, but cut off and walled off. Outside the City, time flows freely all around, and we are barricaded in.

Sealed off, like the dimension I got stuck in, yeah? But if that were the case somebody'd figure the way out. [It's fairly clear by her furrowed brow, she'll think about this later.]

Least there's people we know here. [Clearly what she means is at least the Doctor is here.]

Yes, something like that. Only, overseen. Moderated. [She could tell Rose she's felt in some who live here that they've come and gone, but she doesn't want to get her hopes up too early. She hasn't seen Rose finding a way out just yet, and isn't sure if she will.]

Of course. We are in good company. The best of company, really. Couldn't have done better if I'd chosen myself-- and, well, I did.

Guess I really ought to thank you then. [She grins at the TARDIS.]

You know he tells it, he stole you.

Oh, does he now? [She wrinkles up her nose.] He does tend to embellish in such a way as to make himself seem-- Oh, I'll have a word with him. I'm the one who stole him, I assure you.

[That makes Rose laugh.] M'certainly glad you did.

As am I, to be sure. Similarly so that you've been along for the ride.

The nice thing 'bout you bein' human, if you were here right now, I could hug you. Bit harder to do with a box.

[Her face lights up.]

Oh, hugging! I'd like that.

In that case, where you at?

I'm there. --No, sorry, will be there, where you are, in approximately two-hundred and forty-nine seconds.

[Rose laughs softly and nods.]

I'll wait here then.

[It's not long before Rose is half-attacked with an eager hug. She gets a kiss on the cheek, too, as a bonus.]

Hello! Am I late?

[Being half-attacked with a hug is a wonderful thing. It makes Rose grin from ear to ear.]

I think you are here at the perfect time, just like always.

[Oh, at this rate, she's definitely going to get a big head.]

I supppose that's right, isn't it? Like the wizard in the book. Oh, just look at you!

[She swishes a finger through the air, tracing the curve of Rose's smile.]

[Well she likes to give the Doctor a big head too, so it's only fair the TARDIS gets to benefit as well.]

Me! Look at you! Human! or human looking. Guess bein' in a human body doesn't make you human.

No. Well, only a little. Perhaps mostly. Humans are all so different, I don't know how I should know! But, well, here I am, whatever I am.

A bit of both then. Unique.

[A self-gratified smile.]

Just so. Unique.