[She listens, half a smile on her face.] Bit like here then. [She bites the tip of her tongue against asking if he'd had someone else with him then. Jealous? Noooo of course not.]

A bit, yeah. Course, the TARDIS is still actually here, just a bit different. [He mulls over that for a moment, then continues.] And honestly I'd prefer being stuck somewhere with a bit of technology and a bit less... glitter, anyway. [If she doesn't aaaask he's not going into ittt. :D]

[Like she's not going to ask. Really? He can probably tell by the incredibly curious and amused look that comes over her face.]

Glitter? [Beware, that's already a laugh bubbling out of her. Of course she's imagining his Ninth self covered in glitter despite the fact that she knows he'd just regenerated not long ago when she'd met him.]

[Well I meant about prior flat owners but he is equally reticent about the glitter, so. He gets a little squirmy and then tries for nonchalance.] Oh, you know, it was nearly the seventies. It was everywhere. Hard to get away from; it practically stays on you forever. You get hugged by one person, you look like you've rolled about in a mirror for three weeks.

[Honestly, prior owners hadn't occurred to her. She'd gotten hung up on the glitter. She continues to giggle at the mental image.]

And with the way you hug, bet you were covered in it.

[He makes a face.] Well, I learned not to do it very quickly if I didn't want to start looking spectacular, yes. Honestly, it gets on your clothes and you try and wipe it off so it gets on your hands and then it's on your face and in your hair and mouth - nightmare.

[She grins at him, the tip of her tongue between her teeth]I'll keep that in mind. Leave off the glitter. [Because clearly hugs from the Doctor are much more important than being be-dazzled.]

[Instant brightening.] I would appreciate that! Hate to have to start avoiding you; practically be a waste of time anyway.

Just as soon have none of that [She might be pouting a bit here.] Waste of time?

I mean, trying to avoid you. Obviously.

[Good answer Doctor] I'd just find you again. [She beams, very proud of this.] 'Sides, us bein' flatmates and all, bit hard to do.

You're getting quite good at that, yeah. Although the flatmates thing does give you a bit of an unfair advantage. And being stuck here. I suppose that would just make it somewhat inevitable, what with how easily you seemed to find it before. Find me before.

[That amuses her.] Yeah? Only you'd consider looking into the heart of the TARDIS and rippin' through dimensions easy.

[It's better that he doesn't make a big deal of it though.]

[That is a very good point. Ripping through dimensions and regenerating and TARDIS open-heart surgery; maybe not that easy.] Well. You sor-- No, actually, I still think you made it look easy. Most people can't do it if they try really hard, just the once. Multiple times? [Dismissive noise.]

[He gets a big grin, one that clearly says she knows he's proud of her and she's delighted by it.]

S'all in the attitude.

Seems like. [Oh, so proud. Unrealistic amounts of proud, really.] Right bit of attitude at the right moment honestly does wonders.

Seems like somethin' I learned from...[She touches her top lip with the tip of her tongue, pretending to think on this a bit.] from this odd guy with a leather jacket, big ears. Fantastic bloke.

[He does his best to remain neutral when she apparently stops to think about it. And then, oh. Well. That's totally different. That's actually oka- wait a minute] Odd?

[She laughs and shrugs.] The first time I met you, we were runnin' from mannequins. The second time, you were pokin' your head through the cat door. Little bit odd.

[Well, okay, even he has to concede that point. He's fairly mollified.] The good kind of odd though, right? Not that sort of 'I'm going to humour the crazy person for a while and hope they, oooh, leave my limbs intact' sort of odd. The dashing, charismatic, 'who was that amazing stranger' kind?

[She'll even push herself up off the floor and to her feet for this so that she can bump his shoulder with hers and grin at him, the tip of her tongue between her teeth.] Got in the box with you, didn't I?

[Cue complete mollification. All the way back over to near smugness, even.] Yes you did. Took two asks though.

[Oh she likes smug Doctor much better than she does doubting Doctor. It suits him better.] Had to worry 'bout how Mickey'd fare without me. Second time you asked, I decided he'd learn to make it without me.

[And then she pauses, trying to decide if she wants to know the answer to a question she's wanted to ask before.] You don't usually ask twice?

[He would consider commenting on the speed at which she'd come to that conclusion, but he's happy it's the one she made so he doesn't feel the need to call attention to that aspect.

Instead he also pauses momentarily before replying.] Well, most people are impressed enough with the first go 'round that I don't have to do it a second time.

[Rose bites her bottom lip, trying to decide just how honest to be with him] That was sorta the problem, you know? You were...you [And it's clear from the look on her face that impressive and amazing doesn't cover it] And I was just me. The blonde girl that drops out of school to hang 'round with a musician bloke and folds shirts at Henrik's.

[And then she finds everywhere to look except at the Doctor's eyes.]