Author –
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jlrpuck Rating – T
Pairing – Peter Carlisle/Rose Tyler
Spoilers – For both Blackpool and S2 of Doctor Who.
Disclaimer – Characters from Blackpool and Doctor Who are the property of the BBC, and are used with the greatest of love and respect; no profit is intended from the writing or sharing of this story.
Summary – Through a discussion of Peter’s watch, Rose learns a little bit more about Peter’s past. Falls around the events of “A Holiday Thing”.
Author’s Notes – Inspired by a single cap from Blackpool* and a question: Where did Peter’s watch come from? It began as a discussion with chicklet73, and rapidly spiralled into this little ficlet.
EGT was unavailable this past week, and so I called in a crack team of pinch-hitters to keep me in line in her absence. Many thanks to
aibhinn and chicklet73 , both of whom provided excellent comment and criticism, and helped to polish this into a sparkly little piece of work. A Watch Thing
It started as a simple question one day, as he dug through the drawer of the bedside table in the vain hope of finding a new watchband.
“Where’s it from?”
He glanced up from digging through the drawer—honestly, why would he have a spare watchband in there, anyway?—to find Rose looking, fascinated, at his watch. She’d picked it up, was gently ghosting her fingers over the face as she cradled it lightly in her palm, and she glanced up at him. “I mean…” she returned the watch to the dresser, pulling her hands back, “you always wear it. An’…”
He closed the small drawer, walking over to where Rose stood. “I’ve had it for years, now.” He reached down, handling the familiar timepiece, sparing a moment to glare at where the leather of the watchband had finally cracked through—it had been put through quite a bit in the past five years, including being caught in several rainstorms, one unfortunate dunk in a river, and more than a few spontaneous showers with the woman in front of him. The watch was water-resistant, but the band itself wasn’t designed for that kind of abuse.
Rose reached over, gently tracing a fingertip around the face, following the numbers. “I’ve always loved it.”
He turned to her, surprised. “Really?”
She smiled shyly. “Yeah. Used to see it when you’d be sittin’ across from me, thinkin’.”
He grinned slowly. “When you were ogling me, you mean?”
She leaned into him, bumping her shoulder into his arm. “Was not.”
“Were too.”
“No I wasn’t.” Her cheeks flushed and she bit her lip, returning her attention to the watch in his hand. He still couldn’t believe he had that kind of power over her, to make the normally self-assured and loquacious woman next to him grow shy and embarrassed.
“That’s quite all right—I wasn’t precisely focusing on my work to the exclusion of all else.” He winked as she looked up at him, and she laughed.
“Fine, fine, I might have been looking at more than the watch.”
“I knew it!”
“Clever bastard.”
“Aye. I have the sneaking suspicion that you enjoy that aspect of my personality.”
“That I do.” Rose returned her attention to the watch, tentatively reaching down towards it, asking through a glance if she could hold it.
He handed it over to her, continuing gently, “That was my dad’s.”
Rose’s eyes flew to his, her surprise evident.
He continued. “My mum gave it to him at some point. I…I don’t know when. Not really.” He reached down, guiding her to turn the watch over. The engraving on the back was still sharp and clear, the result of years spent tucked away in the back of the top drawer of his dad’s dresser, then another several years resting on a bookshelf at the cottage. He’d worn it for his entire career, but so rarely took it off that it simply hadn’t worn away.
“What’s it say?” Rose asked, looking up at him.
“Tha gaol agam ort.”
Rose blinked. “What?”
He took the watch from her, using his pinkie to pick out each finely engraved word as he pronounced it. “Tha. Gaol. Agam. Ort. That’s how I know it came from my mum.”
He brushed his thumb across the words, remembering hearing his mum say them to his father. He’d not understood the words at the time—wouldn’t for years—but he clearly understood his father’s reaction, a beaming smile crossing his face before he swept his wife in for a kiss.
Peter had very faint memories of seeing his father wearing the watch; he’d found pictures, when he cleaned out his father’s things and again when he’d organised the cottage, where it was visible on his father’s wrist. The oldest of the pictures had pre-dated Peter’s birth, and he’d long suspected that his mum had given it to his dad upon Martin’s birth, or thereabouts.
“What’s it mean?” Rose’s voice broke into his memories. He blinked, trying to focus, his thumb pausing over the engraved words.
“It means...” He felt his throat tighten; he’d not translated that particular phrase in years. “It means...I...I love you.” His voice was so soft, Rose had to lean in to hear him.
Rose tilted her head, looking up at him; she gazed steadily at him for a few moments, before gently offering, “’s lovely.”
He nodded once, pocketing the watch. Taking a step back he fought the urge to flee, to run from the memories, flooding through him. Fifteen years, now, he’d worn the watch, but the memories associated with it momentarily consumed him.
Rose reached out, resting a hand on his arm. “’m sorry.”
He smiled, knowing it didn’t meet his eyes. “Don’t be. It’s...you didn’t know.”
Rose bit her lip, thinking, her thumb rubbing lightly along his arm just below the crook of his elbow. He focused on her touch, on the soothing rhythm, trying to relax; she’d asked out of curiosity, not out of maliciousness. She wasn’t going to use those words as a weapon, wasn’t going to mock him for knowing Gaelic, or for wearing a memento of his parents on his left wrist every day. She leaned up into him, brushing a light kiss across his cheek, before turning to continue dressing.
“Rose—” She turned to him as he called her name, her forehead furrowing. “D’you want to know about it?”
Her eyebrows relaxed, her eyes brightening. She nodded, moving towards him. “I’d love to.”
He dug into his pocket, pulling the watch out as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. He smiled softly at Rose, patting the red duvet, inviting her to join him; she smiled in return, moving to sit between him and the carved foot of the bed.
“I found this, much to my surprise, when Martin and I set about cleaning out after...my dad...”
Rose reached over and took his free hand, threading her fingers through his. How was it he could wear the blasted thing every day for so long and not think twice, but the second he tried to tell Rose about it, about its history, he choked up?
“Where’d you find it?” she asked gently.
“Buried behind his vests, in his dresser. Martin was clearing out the wardrobe, I got the drawers. I...Martin doesn’t know.”
Rose blinked, pulling back slightly in surprise. “He doesn’t know what?”
“That I found it. That it’s Dad's.”
Rose pursed her lips slightly; he braced for what she might say, what words she might use to chastise him for not sharing with his brother. He’d found it that day, so long ago; had felt excitement and sadness and fear pass through him as he looked at the fine craftsmanship of the timepiece, as he turned it over and saw the engraving. Martin would have wanted to be rid of it, would want to sell it for cash; Peter knew he wouldn’t be able to wear such a thing, but he couldn’t bear the thought of this last tie to his mum falling into the hands of a stranger. And so he’d pocketed it.
Rose looked at him, her eyes focusing on his, her mouth slowly relaxing. “So, you found it. Then what?”
He sighed. “We moved a bunch of things up to the cottage—books, mainly, but also some linens and other things. The cottage had been left to me, as you know, and Martin never went—too cold and drafty.” He smiled in response to Rose’s knowing grin; the reaction reached his eyes this time. “So I left it there, and managed to forget about it for a while.”
Rose glanced down at the watch, easing it from his fingers, running her thumb over the crystal face. “’s truly lovely.”
“Mum had good taste.”
“She did.” Rose turned her head, looking at him sidelong. “So.” She drew the word out, and Peter braced for mischief. “When’d you decide you were a classy enough bloke to wear something so nice?” She smiled at him, taking the sting out of the words by giggling. For as long as they’d dated, she’d teased him about his love for jumpers and rumpled shirts; asking if he was dressing the way he thought a DI would, or if he’d been born with that fashion sense. As her question was usually asked as she divested him of said clothing, he found he’d never minded.
“I...I don’t know. I just woke up one day, and decided maybe I’d like to wear it.” And he had. It had been after Uni, as he packed things up at the cottage to move to the small flat he’d originally let in Kendal. The watch had sat for years on the bookshelves in the parlour of the cottage, gathering dust like everything else. One day, on a trip north, he’d reached for some of his favourite books, had brushed against the watch, and by the time he’d picked it up he’d decided to start wearing it. And that had been that.
“It suits you, you know.”
“How so?”
Rose looked at it, her face softening. “‘s...dinged and lived a hard life, but it’s cherished. I’ve seen what you put it through—it’s resilient. And the face...’s beautiful.” Her gaze returned to his face, her expression vulnerable.
He leaned down, brushing a kiss over her lips, pulling back slowly. “Thank you,” he whispered.
She ducked her head. “’s only the truth.” She flipped the broken leather band with her fingers. “Band’s a bit manky, though. D’you ever take it off?”
He took the watch from her in mock indignation. “It’s off now, isn’t it?”
“Besides when the band breaks, Peter.” Her eyes twinkled.
“I do!”
“When.”
“When I shower.”
Rose arched an eyebrow sceptically.
“You’ve not been with me for every shower I take, Rose.”
“More’s the pity,” Rose offered, her tongue peeping from the corner of her mouth.
“Cheeky.”
“Problem?”
“Not at all.” He leaned down, stealing a kiss, before continuing. “And when I swim.”
Rose turned to him, unsure. “How often is that?”
“At the cottage? Whenever the water’s warm enough. Here? Whenever I can.”
“I...I didn’t know that.”
“I have to keep my girlish figure somehow, Rose,” he teased. Rose knew he swam up at the cottage—she’d found him going for a swim on their first visit, and had given him the time and privacy he craved to go for a swim on each of their subsequent visits—but he supposed he’d never mentioned his proclivity for swimming laps when he really needed to clear his mind. “I...it’s how I think, sometimes.”
“Oh.”
“Other than that, though...I don’t take it off much at all.”
Rose wrinkled her nose. “And how old is the band, then?”
“A few years.”
Rose leaned against him, reaching across to drift her fingers across the engraving; he’d turned the watch over, running his thumb absentmindedly against it as he’d talked with her.
“I’m amazed you’ve not rubbed that off,” she observed.
“I don’t take it off often enough.”
“Tha gaol agam ort.” She destroyed the words, reading them phonetically instead of with the instinct of a native speaker.
He couldn’t help it—he laughed, stifling it quickly when he saw the flash of hurt in her eyes.
“Y’don’t need to laugh...”
She really was stung by his reaction, and he gently captured her hand. “I...I’m sorry, Rose. Truly.” He glanced down at the watch, holding her hand as he traced the words with his forefinger. “I’ll teach you. Tha gaol agam ort.”
Rose tried to repeat the words again, her cheeks turning scarlet, her eyes focused on the engraving as she gave it a half-hearted effort; she was worried he’d laugh at her again.
“No, Rose. Look at me.” He set the watch down, turning his torso to face hers. “Listen to what I say, don’t think about how it’s spelled.”
He repeated the phrase again—Hah GEUL AH-kum orsht—holding her gaze, willing her to trust that he wasn’t mocking her. He found, as he said the words yet again, that they’d lost much of their sting.
Rose tried again, improving, and he leaned down for a kiss. “We’ll teach you Gaelic yet.”
She arched an eyebrow playfully. “You’re going to teach me?”
“I...”
Rose leaned towards him, licking her lips. “Will I be rewarded if I learn quickly?”
“Yes,” he whispered, closing the distance between them.
“So...if I said Hah GEUL AH-kum orsht, correctly, I’d—”
He cut her off, kissing her fiercely, pulling back several moments later to catch his breath.
“Oh. I think I like that.” Rose was still breathless. “What’s my next lesson?”
“Telling me you love me repeatedly as I make love to you,” he growled, leaning into her again, his lips crashing against hers as his arms pulled her to him.
~-~-~-~-~-~
It was another day before Peter finally got around to finding a new band for his beloved watch.
~fin~
*Lovely HQ cap of larissa_j
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Thank you! And, now that I'm back home after a week's travel, I see that I have a whole passel of chapters of your story to read!
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As do I--although I don't know that I'll *ever* write them doing taxes ;)
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Now I feel the urge to go back and re-read some of the stories, looking for more about Peter's background. I can't remember Martin showing up in person yet, and I'm just not sure how that scene would play out, even though Rose would have Peter's back all the way through.
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I'm not sure how much you'll find, honestly--it's something which is alluded to in the existing stories, but never really explored. Loreen, in fact, may be the issue explored in greatest depth.
The sequel, however, is chock full of ghosts for Poor Peter. Which is a terribly teasing thing to say--but I'm still hoping to be able to start posting the sequel here in a few weeks.
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There's something with a story behind it.
“When you were ogling me, you mean?”
She leaned into him, bumping her shoulder into his arm. “Was not.”
“Were too.”
“No I wasn’t.”
Come on now, Rose. Truth.
The whole story of the watch is lovely, as we see that emotion from Peter, but we also get a glimpse into his family we haven't had before.
she’d asked out of curiosity, not out of maliciousness. She wasn’t going to use those words as a weapon, wasn’t going to mock him for knowing Gaelic, or for wearing a memento of his parents on his left wrist every day.
Eek. Wounded Peter again-- that man is far too scarred.
“When’d you decide you were a classy enough bloke to wear something so nice?”
I love that-- she's telling him that she likes the watch and that he's classy all in one go, without putting him even more on edge about it (if that's possible).
For as long as they’d dated, she’d teased him about his love for jumpers and rumpled shirts; asking if he was dressing the way he thought a DI would, or if he’d been born with that fashion sense. As her question was usually asked as she divested him of said clothing, he found he’d never minded.
Aww, bless him. Not the greatest fashion but certainly not the worst. And I think that last bit would definitely make up for any hurt feeling ;0)
“‘s...dinged and lived a hard life, but it’s cherished. I’ve seen what you put it through—it’s resilient. And the face...’s beautiful.”
Like Peter.
“Band’s a bit manky, though. D’you ever take it off?”
He took the watch from her in mock indignation. “It’s off now, isn’t it?”
“Besides when the band breaks, Peter.” Her eyes twinkled
That's such a guy thing. Love the teasing.
“You’ve not been with me for every shower I take, Rose.”
Is that an offer, Inspector?
“I have to keep my girlish figure somehow, Rose,”
With that skinny gut? He doesn't have to do a darned thing to keep his girlish figure. :0)
She arched an eyebrow playfully. “You’re going to teach me?”
“I...”
Rose leaned towards him, licking her lips. “Will I be rewarded if I learn quickly?”
Mmmm, she might actually enjoy the detentions more...
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*g* The grand misadventure of Penny and Peter.
The whole story of the watch is lovely, as we see that emotion from Peter, but we also get a glimpse into his family we haven't had before.
Thank you, and all due credit to
Like Peter.
Exactly.
Is that an offer, Inspector?
*g* I'm sure he'd be happy to share the shower with Rose every morning.
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From: (Anonymous)
jfiliberti again
He’d not understood the words at the time—wouldn’t for years—but he clearly understood his father’s reaction, a beaming smile crossing his face before he swept his wife in for a kiss.
So he didn’t start learning Gaelic until after his mother died?
He focused on her touch, on the soothing rhythm, trying to relax; she’d asked out of curiosity, not out of maliciousness. She wasn’t going to use those words as a weapon, wasn’t going to mock him for knowing Gaelic, or for wearing a memento of his parents on his left wrist every day.
Is there anything that Loreen didn’t use in her power games against Peter? She deserved everything that came to her in the end. Any chance of her Torchwood employers ever finding out, anonymously of course, how she and her husband have been earning extra cash?
He’d found it that day, so long ago; had felt excitement and sadness and fear pass through him as he looked at the fine craftsmanship of the timepiece, as he turned it over and saw the engraving. Martin would have wanted to be rid of it, would want to sell it for cash; Peter knew he wouldn’t be able to wear such a thing, but he couldn’t bear the thought of this last tie to his mum falling into the hands of a stranger.
The real Peter is such a sentimental man, I’m glad he is able to let Rose see that. But I’m curious as to what triggered him into developing the snarky, sarcastic personality that his colleagues know and love, or was it something else? Was it his mother’s death, or, probably more likely, a combination of factors starting with his mother’s death and his father’s reaction to that?
“It suits you, you know.”
“How so?”
Rose looked at it, her face softening. “‘s...dinged and lived a hard life, but it’s cherished. I’ve seen what you put it through—it’s resilient. And the face...’s beautiful.” Her gaze returned to his face, her expression vulnerable.
*sigh* That really does sum up Peter in a nutshell – tough outer casing with a beautiful and complicated interior.
“Tha gaol agam ort.” She destroyed the words, reading them phonetically instead of with the instinct of a native speaker.
…
Rose tried again, improving, and he leaned down for a kiss. “We’ll teach you Gaelic yet.”
I love how Peter goes full circle in this story from the beginning and having to convince himself that Rose won’t make fun of him for speaking Gaelic to the ending where he is offering to teach her so he can share a part of his past with her. Not only that, but you also gives us a second hint of Rose's vulnerability as far as Peter's opinion of her is concerned - her blushing at the beginning when he nails her for ogling him, and her embarassment when he laughs at her here. Although, I bet these language lessons will be nothing like the Italian and Spanish classes I had in high school and college.
“So...if I said Hah GEUL AH-kum orsht, correctly, I’d—”
He cut her off, kissing her fiercely, pulling back several moments later to catch his breath.
“Oh. I think I like that.” Rose was still breathless. “What’s my next lesson?”
“Telling me you love me repeatedly as I make love to you,” he growled, leaning into her again, his lips crashing against hers as his arms pulled her to him.
*melts into a big puddle of goo*
Has Rose been practicing, waiting for opportunity to bust out with the Gaelic to impress Peter? Is it wrong that this made me think of Gomez Addams, “Tish, that’s French!”
Lovely, as always, but even more special to me because we got to learn even more about Peter.
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Re: jfiliberti again
Indeed. His mum would have been the one to teach him, but she died before she really got the chance. And since his father chose not to teach him, his Nana Lucy stepped in.
Any chance of her Torchwood employers ever finding out, anonymously of course, how she and her husband have been earning extra cash?
Loreen used anything and everything she could as leverage--for her, life is all about power: who has it, who doesn't, and using it to advantage. As for TW finding out about what she and her husband are up to...Rose will only tell if Loreen--or her husband--make a move against Peter. Peter, of course, made no such promise. ;)
I’m curious as to what triggered him into developing the snarky, sarcastic personality that his colleagues know and love, or was it something else? Was it his mother’s death, or, probably more likely, a combination of factors starting with his mother’s death and his father’s reaction to that?
It was a combination of factors, triggered mostly by his mum's death. There's a line in the sequel about how Peter clearly looks like his mum's side of the family, and how his father couldn't cope with that and so shut him out. And after his Nana died, he had no one, really, who would let him know how loved he truly was. So the persona developed as a self-defence mechanism: If he mocked people first, they'd not have the chance to mock him, or otherwise hurt him.
Annie managed to work her way behind the facade, as did Loreen. Natalie did, to some degree--and Rose, certainly, has.
I love how Peter goes full circle in this story ... [and] you also give us a second hint of Rose's vulnerability
I picture this as either right before they move in together, or right after--so they're still getting to really and truly know each other. There are still bumps in the road, in other words, and they're learning where those lie. Poor Rose--even several years on, I envision her still having some sensitivities to not finishing her A-levels, to not being as educated, or feeling as smart, as people think she should be.
I bet these language lessons will be nothing like the Italian and Spanish classes I had in high school and college.
I think that's a safe bet ;)
Has Rose been practicing
Nope--to this point, she's only heard Peter swear in Gaelic. However, she took his advice and listened to what he said, instead of focusing on what the letters spelled out.
Is it wrong that this made me think of Gomez Addams, “Tish, that’s French!”
Not wrong at all--in fact, it's a pretty accurate simile--only with Rose in the Gomez role ;)
Re: jfiliberti again
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From: (Anonymous) - Date: 2008-05-20 01:12 am (UTC) - ExpandRe: jfiliberti again
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anyway... gotta get some work done today but I'll comment this evening when I get home.
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Just as I love exploring it--and I don't even have the handy excuse of having psychologists as parents!
I'm more fascinated by a fictional character than I am by any of the men I meet IRL
Well, I'm right there with you. Here, have a Bloody Mary and some nachos. ;)
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I'm guessing this is set before Peter moved to London?
Loved the language lessons, Rose's first attempt was shades of Tooth and Claw as was Peter's reaction (No, don't do that).
Peter does indeed have a thing for water, it's amazing he's not a prune all of the time! ;)
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I'm out-and-out waffling on whether it's before or after the move. I think...I think it's right before the move. He's accepted the job, and knows he's going to move, but he hasn't just yet.
Rose's first attempt was shades of Tooth and Claw as was Peter's reaction (No, don't do that).
Aw, I'd not thought of that. Maybe I should go back and watch T&C, just to be sure I remember what you're talking about ;) (I do remember--I'll just take any excuse to re-watch it!)
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oh well! On with the reading xD And thanks to you I started by manic hunt for good websites that help you learn Gaelic - again xD
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Good luck with the Gaelic XD
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can't say more it just weent very well with the gogeous spring day we had over here !!
Now I want to learn gaelic !!
Bravo !!
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And, of course, I'm thrilled you enjoyed Peter's story!
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Prin AWT Comments 1 of 2
Well, we know about at least one of these rainstorms and one of these still-dressed showers, but I really wanna hear about him taking a dunk in the drink.
She smiled shyly. “Yeah. Used to see it when you’d be sittin’ across from me, thinkin’.”
He grinned slowly. “When you were ogling me, you mean?”
She leaned into him, bumping her shoulder into his arm. “Was not.”
“Were too.”
Peter notices just about everything. Is he ever going to call her on her voyeurism during that one call to tech support?
He’d worn it for his entire career, but so rarely took it off that it simply hadn’t worn away.
If he weren't so pale, I'm sure he'd have a patch on his arm from it.
“Tha gaol agam ort.”
Rose blinked. “What?”
Are we privileged to be witnesses to the first time he's whipped the Gaelic out on her – deliberately, at least?
(Incidentally, checked with the Rosetta Stone folks over the weekend. They have Welsh, they have Irish, but no Scots Gaelic. *boohiss*)
He’d not understood the words at the time—wouldn’t for years—but he clearly understood his father’s reaction, a beaming smile crossing his face before he swept his wife in for a kiss.
Probably one of Peter's few happy childhood memories. *sigh*
“It means...” He felt his throat tighten; he’d not translated that particular phrase in years. “It means...I...I love you.” His voice was so soft, Rose had to lean in to hear him.
A little piece of both his Mum, and his Dad from happier times. *wibble*
She wasn’t going to use those words as a weapon, wasn’t going to mock him for knowing Gaelic, or for wearing a memento of his parents on his left wrist every day.
Would it be completely uncouth to spit in Loreen's direction?
“Buried behind his vests, in his dresser. Martin was clearing out the wardrobe, I got the drawers. I...Martin doesn’t know.”
If he had known, he'd probably have just tried to sell it, to be perfectly blunt. Or tried to squeeze something out of Peter in exchange for 'letting' him keep a watch Martin wouldn't have cared about.
Martin would have wanted to be rid of it, would want to sell it for cash…
Bingo.
Peter knew he wouldn’t be able to wear such a thing, but he couldn’t bear the thought of this last tie to his mum falling into the hands of a stranger. And so he’d pocketed it.
*huggles*
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Re: Prin AWT Comments 1 of 2
I've been swept back up into the sequel, but perhaps I'll see about writing a short one-off about this for next week.
Is he ever going to call her on her voyeurism during that one call to tech support?
*g* He could do, at some point...
Are we privileged to be witnesses to the first time he's whipped the Gaelic out on her – deliberately, at least?
You are indeed.
Would it be completely uncouth to spit in Loreen's direction
Not at all.
Bingo.
Good to know Martin's as consistent a character as Peter ;)
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Prin AWT Comments 2 of 2
She will eventually break him of the habit of dressing as though he's borrowed Martin's clothes…
Rose looked at it, her face softening. “‘s...dinged and lived a hard life, but it’s cherished. I’ve seen what you put it through—it’s resilient. And the face...’s beautiful.” Her gaze returned to his face, her expression vulnerable.
It's got so much character, and was borne of love between Peter's Mum and Dad, and made it through years of neglect intact… no, no parallels at all.
“You’ve not been with me for every shower I take, Rose.”
“More’s the pity,” Rose offered, her tongue peeping from the corner of her mouth.
If they showered together all the time, I don't know how they would make it out of the house on the mornings they're together.
“At the cottage? Whenever the water’s warm enough. Here? Whenever I can.”
“I...I didn’t know that.”
As Rose's mind drifts happily to the image of Peter's slender figure slicing through the water, coming up onto the beach dripping wet, or pushing himself up out of the water over the wall of the pool…
Rose knew he swam up at the cottage—she’d found him going for a swim on their first visit, and had given him the time and privacy he craved to go for a swim on each of their subsequent visits—but he supposed he’d never mentioned his proclivity for swimming laps when he really needed to clear his mind.
She 'found' him going for a swim, eh? And she didn't join him out there?
He couldn’t help it—he laughed, stifling it quickly when he saw the flash of hurt in her eyes.
“Y’don’t need to laugh...”
That's not exactly the best way to encourage her interest, dude. I'm picturing a look on her face about on par with when the Doctor laughed at her for the PW's Rose turning out to be a dog.
“No, Rose. Look at me.” He set the watch down, turning his torso to face hers. “Listen to what I say, don’t think about how it’s spelled.”
Given that the various Gaelic groups seem to have based their orthography on pissing off the English for making them write it down? XP
Rose tried again, improving, and he leaned down for a kiss. “We’ll teach you Gaelic yet.”
To borrow a phrase from
Rose leaned towards him, licking her lips. “Will I be rewarded if I learn quickly?”
“Yes,” he whispered, closing the distance between them.
With rewards scaled for the difficulty of the lesson? ;D
“Oh. I think I like that.” Rose was still breathless. “What’s my next lesson?”
“Telling me you love me repeatedly as I make love to you,” he growled, leaning into her again, his lips crashing against hers as his arms pulled her to him.
Warning: filthy talk in Gaelic ahead, 50 meters.
It was another day before Peter finally got around to finding a new band for his beloved watch.
Maybe Aqualad should try a vulcanized rubber band for the replacement...
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Re: Prin AWT Comments 2 of 2
Subtle, no? Lemme just hide that anvil... ;)
As Rose's mind drifts happily to the image of Peter's slender figure slicing through the water, coming up onto the beach dripping wet, or pushing himself up out of the water over the wall of the pool…
*mind drifts*
She 'found' him going for a swim, eh? And she didn't join him out there?
Nope. There's a reason for that, too. Perhaps *that* will be next week's fic...
I'm picturing a look on her face about on par with when the Doctor laughed at her for the PW's Rose turning out to be a dog.
Or on par with when Nine called her a stupid ape.
With rewards scaled for the difficulty of the lesson?
Absolutely!
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ch73 comments part 1
Away we go...
one unfortunate dunk in a river
I'd love to hear this story...
"...Used to see it when you’d be sittin’ across from me, thinkin’.”
*happily imagines BP screencaps*
He winked as she looked up at him
*swoon*
asking through a glance if she could hold it.
He handed it over to her
I love this subtle exchange. Now here's a couple of people who are very comfortable with each other and know each other very well.
“Tha gaol agam ort.”
OMFG THE GAELIC
::THUD::
using his pinkie to pick out each finely engraved word
I love this detail.
He brushed his thumb across the words
Eeeee! He does do this. Tactile bastard. *hearts*
remembering hearing his mum say them to his father
Of *course*. Of course it's his mum from whom he learned these. And now the moment where he says them to Rose in ART is even more profoundly beautiful and romantic.
he clearly understood his father’s reaction, a beaming smile crossing his face before he swept his wife in for a kiss.
I love the fact his parents were happy. It makes it so believable, his dad's grief, and even more tragic, the family's loss. No wonder they were all so torn up. And oh, his life could have been so different - Poor Peter - but since his mum's death and its effect helped shape the man he is, I can't help still being grateful for it. ANYWAY.
“It means...I...I love you.” His voice was so soft, Rose had to lean in to hear him.
*heart breaks for him* Poor sad nostalgic vulnerable Peter…
Taking a step back he fought the urge to flee, to run from the memories, flooding through him
It's amazing, and believable, how powerfully he can still feel about this. And his reaction and desire to run away from that? Absolutely spot-on. (and understandable, IMHO)
Rose reached out, resting a hand on his arm. “’m sorry.”
Aw, I love how she always does this - she always reaches out to him (both metaphorically and physically) when he needs it. How many people have done this for him, in his life?
her thumb rubbing lightly along his arm just below the crook of his elbow
*GUH* ARM. *imagines picture with open shirt cuffs*
He focused on her touch, on the soothing rhythm, trying to relax; she’d asked out of curiosity, not out of maliciousness. She wasn’t going to use those words as a weapon, wasn’t going to mock him for knowing Gaelic, or for wearing a memento of his parents on his left wrist every day
And more ugly memories raise their ugly little heads. Grrr. This has "Loreen" written all over it, doesn't it? Although, I'd imagine she wasn't the only one in his life who mocked or hurt him, or he'd never have put up with it like he did. Which makes me wonder about how he got on (or didn't) with his peers at school, or some other women he encountered - I wonder if Natalie was ever malicious. And we know he probably endured disrespect, at least, with some of his colleagues…it makes me all the more grateful for the few people who did treat him well: his gran, Annie…er…*thinks*…oh yes, Louise (anyone who provides me consistently with good coffee would fall into the "plus" column of "influence on my life").
“D’you want to know about it?”
It's still an effort to open up to her sometimes, but he takes a chance and trusts her and makes the deliberate choice to do it anyway and I love that .
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Re: ch73 comments part 1
I could totally envision her trying to sneak her blatant staring past both Peter and Penny as well as her own team...
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ch73 comments part 2
*happysigh*
How was it he could wear the blasted thing every day for so long and not think twice, but the second he tried to tell Rose about it, about its history, he choked up?
This really made me think - why? Is it that telling her about it makes him vulnerable? Is it simply the act of speaking aloud about it? Does it make it more real or more immediate? Like therapy? Talking about things and bringing them to the surface, painful but eventually for the best? Shining light onto the scary and dark parts, so they become less scary and eventually lose their power? Who knows (well, you probably do, as it's your story and all), but I like that you included the question; because it seems like something he'd ask himself, introspective and puzzle-solving man that he is.
Martin would have wanted to be rid of it, would want to sell it for cash
Oh, brilliant - I'd been wondering why he wouldn't tell Martin, beyond a desire (that he might not have been able to admit or name) to have it for himself. Peter's assumption is probably true but it also gave him a reason he could live with that he could take it. Perfect!
Rose looked at him, her eyes focusing on his, her mouth slowly relaxing. “So, you found it. Then what?”
I love that she doesn't chastise him here, as he'd first expected. Instead, she simply accepts it and moves on.
Peter braced for mischief
Brilliantly worded. I love this phrase, and want an opportunity to use it IRL. "What are you doing?"/"Bracing for mischief." (hee)
“When’d you decide you were a classy enough bloke to wear something so nice?” She smiled at him, taking the sting out of the words by giggling.
I remember you saying, somewhere, that the measure of Peter's trust in a person is whether he can be teased by them (and tease in return). Nice to see that here too - she teases, he is un-stung - voila! Trust. Yay! Because it really is affectionate teasing and not malice here. Or anywhere, with him, where Rose is concerned, really.
As her question was usually asked as she divested him of said clothing, he found he’d never minded.
Of course. *g*
Rose looked at it, her face softening. “‘s...dinged and lived a hard life, but it’s cherished. I’ve seen what you put it through—it’s resilient. And the face...’s beautiful.”
Oh god - beautiful. She says the perfect thing to him, yet again. And it is not contrived, it's just her loving him. So much.
“Band’s a bit manky, though. D’you ever take it off?”
*snort*
“You’ve not been with me for every shower I take, Rose.”
“More’s the pity,” Rose offered
AGREED.
“And when I swim.”
What. WHAT. Peter swimming WHAT. *dies* Peter Carlisle, mostly naked, in the water. Wet, almost naked Peter Carlisle. Wet, muscular, sleekly moving, kinetic, Peter Carlisle - swimming-with-powerful-strokes-and-so-that's-where-those-gorgeous-shoulders-and-arms-came-from and it's a workout so he's breathing heavy and why is this so damnably hot? Oh yes. Peter Carlisle. *DIES* Swimming. In water. MOSTLY NAKED.
*mind happily plays with that subject for good long time*
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Re: ch73 comments part 2
Did he think she was going to jam it down her cleavage or summat?
Oh yes. Peter Carlisle. *DIES* Swimming. In water. MOSTLY NAKED.
Rose, sitting at the picnic table with a pair of high-powered binoculars... XP
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ch73 comments part 3
HEE HEE HEE.
a) brilliantly described: "she destroyed the words), and
b) all I can think of is her saying "Och Aye", exquisitely poorly, in T&C.
He couldn’t help it—he laughed
Understandable - so did I.
stifling it quickly when he saw the flash of hurt in her eyes.
Oops. But yay him for immediately backing off so as not to truly hurt her feelings…
He glanced down at the watch, holding her hand as he traced the words with his forefinger. “I’ll teach you. Tha gaol agam ort.”
GUH. Okay.
“Listen to what I say, don’t think about how it’s spelled.”
He repeated the phrase again—Hah GEUL AH-kum orsht—holding her gaze
*falls out of chair*
He found, as he said the words yet again, that they’d lost much of their sting.
Aw, here it is again, what I was babbling about earlier, how the simple act of exposing something making things better, sometimes. We saw this with Rose vs. Loreen - taking her insults, bringing them to light, making light of them, and once in the light, they seemed as small and ridiculous as she herself did. And now these words, opposite to an insult but painful for him nonetheless, but they're brought to light, and he says them and Rose says them and the darkness in them goes away and they become beautiful again. *happysigh*
“Oh. I think I like that.” Rose was still breathless. “What’s my next lesson?”
HEE. Also, yes.
“Telling me you love me repeatedly as I make love to you,” he growled
Where does one sign up for these lessons? *un-caps Penny*
My word, I loved this story. Truly madly deeply and moreso for the "soup to nuts" knowledge I'm lucky enough to have of it. I'll never look at that screencap of Peter the same way, and I'll likely never look at watches the same way, either. Just…absolutely wonderful. *bliss*
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Re: ch73 comments part 3
b) all I can think of is her saying "Och Aye", exquisitely poorly, in T&C.
Poor Rose does *not* have an ear for languages.
*falls out of chair*
Rose is made of Stern Stuff *nods*
Aw, here it is again ... *happysigh*
*joins in happysigh*
My word, I loved this story.
I really, really, really like this story, as well--I think because it's just a mundane morning with Peter and Rose, and then he opens up, and she's all loving, and then the Gaelic, and then *guh*.
Just my two cents, mind ;)
I'll never look at that screencap of Peter the same way, and I'll likely never look at watches the same way, either.
I'm a watch junkie just as much as I'm a fountain pen junkie (Eccleston has a watch that is to die for), so I thank *you* for getting me curious enough about Peter's watch to actually write the story!
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As for this gem, it is lovely. It's fantastic to see Peter be able to turn things that were painful into things he can adore. You can see him really struggle to reason through his fears, and I just love it! Thank you so much, it was great to finally come out of exam haze and have this waiting for me to read :)
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As always, I'm happy to help with post-exam and school issues in my own little way!
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It's like there's no point in my telling you anymore because you probably know anyway. But I love reading it and telling you anyway.
But I love these little moments that are just beautiful and perfect.
*hugs* Thanks for getting me through comp. sci. class. :D
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And I'm always happy to hear that the story was enjoyed--or loved. So thank you!
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This episode is one of your most revelatory. It's not so significant that he wears the watch as a reminder of his parents. Most people have something like that. But that he took the watch, protected that connection to his parents even from his brother -- that says so much. He is so alone. This is the Peter that tried to entice Natalie with talk of fish suppers and dancing and growing old, the sentimental Peter, the one who wants to create a home with someone.
It would be interesting to see what Rose would have shared with Peter if she still had something physical from her world.
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He never fails to surprise me, quite honestly. I think I've got him figured out, and then...well, something like this gets written.
This is the Peter that tried to entice Natalie with talk of fish suppers and dancing and growing old, the sentimental Peter, the one who wants to create a home with someone.
That is a heartbreakingly beautiful assessment of Peter.
It would be interesting to see what Rose would have shared with Peter if she still had something physical from her world.
This is a question I've pondered more than once--and it's a question to which I can never find an answer. Rose has Mickey and her mum; she might know what it's like to have loved and lost, but even at her worst she'll never have experienced the loneliness which Peter has survived.
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A Watch Thing - comments pt. 1
so, I already said that I love the story... simplicity is often best :) though of course the simplicity is deceptive. The emotional impact that the watch has on Peter, and Rose's ability to draw that out of him, to help him process the emotions is remarkable. again. :)
"I've had it for years, now."
Peter keeps things. And as we learn, much of the reason is sentimentality... a side of him that most people he encounters would not expect of him.
"Fine, fine, I might have been looking at more than the watch."
"I knew it!"
"Clever bastard."
"Aye. I have the sneaking suspicion that you enjoy that aspect of my personality."
indeed.
i do love their ability to switch back and forth between teasing and serious discussion.
He handed it over to her, continuing gently, "That was my dad’s."
Rose’s eyes flew to his, her surprise evident.
This may be the first time he's mentioned his dad in a way that doesn't seem filled with, hmmm invective isn't the word I want ... but harshness maybe ? Disappointment ? abject pain ?
He took the watch from her, using his pinkie to pick out each finely engraved word as he pronounced it. "Tha. Gaol. Agam. Ort. That’s how I know it came from my mum."
*HUGS*PETER* what a thing to have to remember her with though.
He brushed his thumb across the words, remembering hearing his mum say them to his father. He’d not understood the words at the time—wouldn't for years—but he clearly understood his father's reaction, a beaming smile crossing his face before he swept his wife in for a kiss.
that sentimentality that allows him to draw on the few good childhood memories he has. So he does have some memories of his parents' relationship and what a good one ought to be. If he remembers that, I'm sure he draws that into the way he shows his love for Rose. Loreen was such a witch that it didn't allow those memories to percolate up. In fact he consciously suppressed them... though if he hadn't he might have gotten out from under her sooner when he realized it wasn't normal.
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Re: A Watch Thing - comments pt. 1
Thank you. This ficlet is solidly
a side of him that most people he encounters would not expect of him.
He's buried it as a survival instinct--but it's easily one of his most endearing qualities.
This may be the first time he's mentioned his dad in a way that doesn't seem filled with ... abject pain ?
It's certainly one of the very few times Rose has heard him remember his father with fondness.
So he does have some memories of his parents' relationship and what a good one ought to be.
He does indeed. I think the memory terrifies him, actually--because he knows what can happen when something bad happens to a half of a strong, deep relationship like his parents had. And allowing himself to open up enough to take that risk--the chance that he'll find a relationship that his parents had, and that his partner might get hurt?--that's such a huge, huge thing for him.