A New Life...Again

[oncewasroman]

WHO: Rory Williams
WHERE: Fountain
WHEN: Dec 22 -- Various Times
OPEN TO: ALL
WARNINGS: TBD
STATUS: CLOSED

---

A. Door to Door
You may have been curling up to a good book you had just received from the Mysterious Gift Deliveries or maybe you were getting ready to go hunting, knife and snares ready to go. Whatever the case may be there is a knock at your door. It doesn't sound very urgent, though it is firm and insistent. Maybe you ignore it. Who could possibly need to see you right this second anyway? It's a village and they can just see you at the inn later. If you do ignore it, another knock will come, this time a little more insistent, urgent and loud. This time you may decide to actually get up and open the door.

Rory stands outside on the porch of a random house. He has no clue where, when, or why he's here. He's wearing unfamiliar navy blue scrubs and is soaking wet -- which probably tells the person answering the door exactly where he came from. He's shaking violently, but he doesn't look scared so much as exasperated by his current predicament. As soon as the door opens he gives a friendly wave, "Hello. I'm Rory. Sorry to bother you, but I seem to have taken an unexpected swim in your local fountain. Do you think you could spare a towel or...I dunno maybe let me in for a minute? It's really cold out here."

The water drips off of him onto the porch or steps of the house. He really hopes he picked a good person to talk to or otherwise this is going to be even more unpleasant than his initial arrival.

---

B. Later -- The Inn
Rory has the basics, or so he thinks, of his new predicament. He's not in New York City. He's not in the 1930s. He's still without his wife. One of these things is a problem, but not one he thinks he can solve. To be fair, he'd been without his wife for nearly a week by this point -- but still, it didn't feel right and he hadn't accepted it. Now he was arguably even more out of her reach than before.

Either way, it wasn't a problem he could solve. He needed to find something more productive to focus on. Keep himself busy so he didn't dwell on that fact. The inn, as he had been told, had a lot to offer in terms of interaction and information so he had elected to visit. He was actually grateful he had because there was food available -- hot, warm, fight-against-the-cold kind of food. He was extremely happy about that and was also happy to find that there was indeed people. More importantly though there was information. Rory needed that right now so he could try to figure out what all of this was.

So, if you weren't one of the lucky few who's door he banged down to get warm. Perhaps you would come across a young man staring at the various lists, maps, and charts on the walls of the inn. He might need to be reminded that his soup was getting cold...

---

C. Waiting at the Fountain
He was dry the second time he visited the fountain and now wearing proper winter clothes. Or, at the very least, the wool socks, coat, and layers provided in the bag he'd arrived with on his back. He stood a few feet away from the fountain, near one of the benches like he might be thinking of sitting but hadn't quite committed himself to it yet. He'd had warm food and good company, but there was still someone missing. Rory didn't have faith in a lot of things -- religion or the Doctor -- but there was one thing he felt he could rely on after all this time. He felt that he could rely on the fact that Amy would make her way to him.

Sure, it'd been over a week since that time in the graveyard when she'd vanished in front of his eyes in the blink of an eye. A week since he'd found himself, once again, in a past version of New York after having just seen a gravestone with his name on it. It hadn't taken long for him to put the pieces together or what had probably had happened and what that gravestone had meant. But still, that didn't mean he'd given up. He'd wait 2000 years once for Amy and she, in turn, had come back to him every single time. They'd done the impossible for each other over and over.

In his gut, Rory was of the belief that Amy would come for him here as well. Just because she hadn't shown up in 1930s New York City didn't mean she hadn't been trying. It wasn't like she could have gone up to the Angels and say "Send me to my husband right this instant."

Actually, no, he took that back, that was exactly something Amy would have done. Or something like it.

So despite the snow, the cold, and the impossible chances. Rory had decided to come back to the fountain and see what happened. He stared off into the distance and might not hear anyone else coming as he had a far away look on his face. It was a look that was equal parts sad and weary.

Comments

Waiting

[zomboligist]

Ravi's been to and from Helen's, the Inn, and then outside again to fetch another round of his presents to start mining through. Each of his trips happens to come with the sight of the same man by the fountain, with a look on his face that generally looks like he's mourning someone who's drowned there. He knows that he probably shouldn't prod at the sad man, but it is chilly and despite the fact that he's got a nice pair of fur gloves and hat (and a cloak, but he finds it makes him look a bit evil, so he's not wearing that just now).

"It'll still be there in spring," Ravi calls across the park to the man, gesturing to the fountain. "You might not be, you might freeze to death, but the fountain's not moving, mate."

[oncewasroman]

Rory blinked, coming out of his stupor. Oh...right he'd drifted off again. The Doctor had commented on it once and honesty Rory did his best not to do it often in front of others. He didn't like to make anyone worry and it was going to be very difficult to explain that 'Oh, don't worry about me just drifting into a previous life.' The unfamiliar voice made the door in his mind slam close and Rory brought himself back to the present.

"Hmm? Oh...y-yeah. Good," he managed to say as his brain started to catch up. He looked across the way and noticed a man bundled in warm clothes. Rory shivered, suddenly more aware of the cold and rubbed his arms to keep a little warmer, "No. I think I still have a bit before that would happen again." He glanced back at the spring, "And I wasn't watching the fountain so much as keeping an eye out for someone."

[zomboligist]

Ravi isn't entirely sure what to do about this, because the man seems really determined to stand there and watch the fountain for someone, but it's frigid and he doesn't want to have to eventually treat him for hypothermia. "Want to know an exciting secret?" he says, rounding the park in order to give him a raised brow look. "You can see the fountain from some of the houses where it's actually warm inside. C'mon, I'll prove it," he insists, trying to get him away from the cold of the outside, seeing as otherwise, they're going to have another icicle on their hands.

"I'm Ravi, Dr. Chakrabarti," he amends. "So trust me, I do know what I'm talking about."

[oncewasroman]

Rory gave him a skeptical look, but he understood that he might have been making others uncomfortable. That was clear from the look he was getting from the other. "Well, that doesn't sound like much of a secret to me, but I suppose taking a look wouldn't hurt all the same," Rory finally admitted. After all, the man had a point. It was freezing out here and Rory wasn't exactly built to wait 2000 years any more. He'd have to wait this out a little differently to be sure.

"A doctor, hm?" He decided not to dwell too much on that one. "Rory Williams," he paused and then added, "Nurse."

[zomboligist]

"Well, hello Nurse," Ravi jokes, feeling like he could add a whistle, but that might actually border on sexual harassment and also, that's fairly awkward given the fact that he doesn't even really know this man. "Sorry, it sounded clever in my own head," he apologizes as he gestures for Rory to follow after him.

"Some of the houses are fairly empty," he shares. "So a couple of us have taken up residence. I know that the view to the fountain is quite the high selling point of the free real estate, here."

[oncewasroman]

Unfortunately Rory was used to such comments after all this time. Honestly, he wouldn't mind working up to the title of doctor some day--but it had seemed like a moot point when he was always being whisked away on adventures. Keeping his job as a nurse had been hard enough in that regard. "It's fine," Rory replies, not really bothered by it all the same. He had bigger problems after all and dealing with potential sexual harassment was not one of them.

"Yes. Apparently we're all trapped here in this village and the houses were here for us to use as shelters. Not sure if that's considered free if the price is being stuck here...but I'm sure having a view of the fountain has its advantages," Rory mused, perhaps a little harsher than he'd originally intended. "Sorry. I was at the inn earlier and I've heard the...gist of the situation so far. Not exactly a fan, but I suppose no one is."

[zomboligist]

"No, it does tend to rate on the low end of situations I'd like to find myself in." Top of the list involves him and Peyton, a tropical resort, no zombies, and more drinks than he knows what to do with. Middle of the list involves road trips and middle America. Here, at the very bottom of the list, was this place. And yet, they were still not scraping the barrel, because in order to do that, Blaine would have to be here.

"Occasionally, there is food," he allows. "And strange little gift boxes that I should suspect, but have been kind so far. So it's not exactly paradise, but nor is it total hell."

Door to Door

[ottimismo]

Sonny had been curling up on the couch with a book, as a matter of fact. Not that he has a lot of books. He has three, exactly — a modern era law book, a hiker's guide to the Pacific Northwest, and the U.S. Army Survival Manual. He's decided to start with the law book, simply because he could do with a little bit of familiarity right now.

He's got himself wrapped up in every single blanket he owns. It's warmer inside than it is outside, especially with the fire he has going in the fireplace, but the chill still seems to seep through the cracks in the house.

He's just finished the first page of tiny, legal-jargon text in the book, feeling a little bit like he's back at Fordham Law, when there's a knock at the door.

For a moment, he's confused. Like maybe he imagined it. It's too cold out there for anybody to be wandering around and making house calls. Most people are probably at the Inn if they're not holed up in their own homes. But then there's a second knock, and Sonny all but launches himself to his feet, rushing to the door and yanking it open.

"Oh," he says in response, and he feels like he's saying that a lot these days. "Oh, no, come in. Did you just show up in the fountain? It's freezing out here, come on."

He steps back, holding the door open. Rory's in luck — he's knocked on the door of who may possibly be the friendliest, most naively trusting person in the village.

[oncewasroman]

Honestly, it wouldn't have surprised him if he'd managed to pick the house of an ax murderer or something, but apparently that wasn't the case. When someone does answer the door it's a man around his own age dressed in white scrubs and looking a little surprised to find someone on his doorstep. Rory can't blame him because, really who would be out in weather like this except a crazy person.

But, apparently that's normal around here because Rory is ushered in without much protest and for that he is extremely grateful. "Thank you," he says as he comes inside, bobbing his head as further sign of his appreciation. Even just stepping across the threshold he feels the instant warmth around him and he shivers again, "Oh...yeah that's much better."

He turns around, remembering the man had asked him about the fountain. He answers through chattering teeth, "Y-yes. Not by choice, really, I mean who would choose to go swimming in a fountain in weather like this?"

[ottimismo]

"I got here a week ago about the same way," Sonny explains. "Except it was sleeting."

He's already bustling around. He finds a towel in the linen closet and hands it to the stranger before pulling the fluffy blanket he'd been about to cocoon himself into off the couch to pass it along as well. It's not unlike how Riza greeted him when he surfaced from the fountain, only her's was a lot more no-nonsense than Sonny could ever be.

He moves to stoke the fire, kneeling down in front of it and poking at it until it grows to more of a roar, cackling and popping angrily. Building a fire is one of the first things he learned to do when he was here — he never had much reason for it, living in an apartment in New York.

"You arrived with a backpack, right? There should be dry clothes in it. Are you hungry? I might have some leftovers from dinner last night...." This, taking care of people, tending to them in their time of need, is what he's good at, and he's already wandering off into the kitchen to check the ice box.

[oncewasroman]

That was certainly interesting information. Two different people coming through a random fountain in the span of a week seemed odd, perhaps not the strangest thing he'd ever experienced, but still odd. "Is that common," he finds himself asking.

Rory accepts the towel handed to him and sort of, follows the man further into the house. No sense standing awkwardly in the doorway when he can stand awkwardly in the center of the room instead. Rory rubs the towel over his hair and face before progressing down to his arms. His attention is mostly on the man moving around and also on his surroundings, trying to work all of this out.

The last thing he'd remembered was wandering around 1930s New York looking for work to do so he could get a decent meal. He'd been sort of in a daze the past week, trying to come to grips with the fact that Amy nor the Doctor had shown up to get him. Was it out of the question? Was it impossible? That seemed likely given the last time had resulted in a paradox. But now he is...here and he had no idea how that had happened because it certainly hadn't felt the same as the last time he'd disappeared in one place and appeared in another.

Rory is pulled out of his confusing thoughts when the other asked a question, "Oh," he looks over his shoulder, but obviously he can feel the weight of it already, it's like he needs to visually confirm that what is on his back is indeed a backpack, "Yes. So that's what's in there? I hadn't had a chance to look yet." Rory shrugs the bag off, letting it land with a thump on the floor. He kneels down to start digging through it, but pauses at the mention of food. He looks up in time to see that the man is apparently answering for Rory and heading into the kitchen anyway, "Ah it's fine, really! You don't have to do that." He wants to go after him, but at the same time he's sort of still soaking wet and doesn't want to just ruin someone else's floors with cold fountain water. "Tea would be much appreciated if you had it though...or something warm," he calls on second thought.

[ottimismo]

"Very common," Sonny answers. "As far as I know, everybody else arrived the same way."

He's aware of the fact that the other man is handling this whole thing alarmingly well. Better than Sonny did, at least. It's not every day that one gets kidnapped from there home and brought to a village that appears to be stuck several decades in the past, so he's not sure how anybody could start adjusting to it so quickly.

Then again, he's learned since showing up here, that not everyone comes from the same place. It's been a little over a week, and he's still coming to grips with all this new information.

Sonny's already in the kitchen, digging through cabinets to find something suitable to eat or drink. Mostly, people will just eat at the Inn, since that's where most of the food is prepared. Sonny likes to take home some leftovers if there are any, and if there isn't anyone who decides to take it home first. But something warm — he comes up with some loose tea leaves and puts a kettle on over the fireplace. This is another thing he's learned how to do lately. Before now, he just bought his tea already made from the cafe down the street from his apartment.

"I'm Sonny, by the way," he says, moving back to the couch while the kettle heats. "Sonny Carisi. There's a bathroom right down the hall there if you want to change into some dry clothes."

[oncewasroman]

Rory snorts, choking back a derisive laugh in the process. "Oh good. So it's not weird then." Except that it is. It is very weird for people to be popping up in the middle of a fountain in a strange village that looked like it might be older than even the 1930s. But, that was Rory's life wasn't it? Things being weird on a scale that most people would find utterly disturbing and over the top science fiction.

"Rory Williams," he replies, figuring that was a little more on the normal side of things. His gaze drifts towards the indicated hallway, "Thank you. That would be helpful. This situation is strange enough without dripping in someone's living room." Rory looks down at the bag, there should be clothes in there, assuming they aren't also wet -- the bag did seem rather sturdy and maybe even a little water proof. Although the real test would be opening it -- Rory's luck is such that it could very well have a hole in it in one of the pockets or something. "If you'll...excuse me for a moment then."

Since they are waiting for the water, Rory decides now would be the best time to change clothes. Apparently he's excused enough to travel to the bathroom and get out of the wet clothes, which is invitation enough for him. Besides, it doesn't take him long to change at all (though he's pleasantly surprised to find warmer clothes in the backpack as well). A few minutes later he returns with a fresh set of clothes, having dried off the best he could manage.

"That's much better and much appreciated."

The Inn

[ad_dicendum]

Gaius knows one thing now: that the strange language that almost everybody speaks here is called Αγγλικά. One thing he doesn't quite know is how to read the strange text that one of the people here, Killian, gifted him. He recognizes the Greek letters, and some of the others are very similar to Latin, but others are completely unfamiliar.

As is how to use the writing implement that goes with the bound bundle of something like a very fine papyrus. Gaius had been fiddling with the thing, trying to understand how it works, when the new young man walked in with his soup. It's a few minutes later when Gaius looks up again, now he's worked out that somehow, the thing inks itself from a part inside the main tube.

Never before in his memory has Gaius been so completely unable to express himself, so once he's worked out the pen, he starts a furious stream of Latin cursive flowing across the pages of the book Stella Gibson had given him.

It's only after some time that he stops writing and looks back up again to see the other man still staring at the charts, his food left unattended and uneaten. Clearly they make sense to the newcomer.

That's why, if Rory happens to look over, he'll see a Roman looking curiously at him.

[oncewasroman]

Rory didn't know the significance of some of the items, but it was interesting to look at all the same. Not so interesting, however, as to distract him from the feeling of being watched. At one point in time, Rory might have been oblivious to such attention, but after you spent several months running from creatures that you forgot about as soon as you weren't looking...well...you learned to trust that feeling of someone watching you out of the corner of your eye.

He nonchalantly went to take a sip of his soup, trying to make it seem like it wasn't obvious that he knew he was being watched. It probably would have worked well too, if Rory hadn't immediately shuddered, "Ah! It's gotten cold." He frowned at the bowl as if it had betrayed him and then turned to look at who else was in the inn. His eyes fell upon a man seated among some books. The man was looking at Rory with some curiosity. Rory blinked, "Uhm...hello. Can I...help you?"

[ad_dicendum]

Hello.

He's fairly certain that he's heard it before, from somebody else trying to greet him. The other words, though, sound as foreign and barbarian to Gaius' ears as the clothing they're all wearing looks.

Gaius hadn't intended to draw the stranger's attention, but Gaius doesn't look away, offers no sign of embarrassment. Whatever this strange inn is in this strange exile, he's still a Roman, son of a censor and grandson of the man who defeated Hannibal.

"Non dicere tuam linguam possum."

That is all he can really say in response, because he has no idea what the man said. He's learned to expect that the man won't understand him, either, but the simple act of speaking Latin will likely say as much as the words themselves.

[oncewasroman]

It's taken Rory awhile to realize that there had been a lot of benefits to TARDIS travel that he hadn't realized until recently. One such benefit was a universal translator. Rory had never thought out it much at the time, and thankfully when he'd been trapped in New York it was, well, New York and they spoke English.

When Gaius responds, it takes Rory's brain a second to process. That...wasn't English. But he did recognize it. "O-oh," Rory manages. A second later it clinks in the back of his mind. He recognizes it because that was the language that had been spoken in that other life.

The Rory that now only existed in his head recognized it right away, the former Roman who had waited 2000 years. This was the language of Ancient Rome. That meant if he was going to have any hope of understanding him he was going to have to access that part of his brain that he really didn't like tapping in to. He always worried that he'd lose himself, though he'd gotten really good at filtering what he needed so he wasn't overwhelmed by those memories from another life.

Now that he knew what he was listening for, he tried to remember the words. He might stumble a bit, he hadn't had a need to speak Latin in some time, "Quod difficilius sit." He hesitated, then asked again, this time in Latin, "I felt you staring and was just asking if I could help you.*"

((ooc:google translate is hit or miss...so i'm going to put when Rory speaks Latin in Italics))

[ad_dicendum]

So far, hardly any people here have shown any sign of recognizing Latin, and even fewer of them have been able to speak it. Gaius isn't expecting this man to be any different, not when he'd been speaking Anglika, not when he'd been looking at those strange charts posted like some magistrate's declaration on the walls of the Inn.

The man gives a surprised little noise, and Gaius at first assumes it's the realization that he doesn't understand what's just been said, but after a pause, the stranger replies, and replies in Latin. Hesitant, uncertain Latin, strangely accented like everyone else here, but Latin, nevertheless.

Any Latin is a relief here. He can't rely on Helen, the Latin speaker with the Greek name who'd greeted him when he arrived, and there's an eagerness in his eyes as he stands, no longer just casually observing.

"Do you understand these writings?" he asks, thrusting out an arm to indicate the fabric that somebody has so carefully hung to the walls. "I cannot read them, and there are not many here who can speak Latin."

He has little here to offer the man for any help he may give, or even for the pleasure of somebody with whom he can converse. But there is more than simply money that one man can do for another. Favor, friendship, allegiance, campaigning: all are within the offer of a man with influence in Rome. Here, he lacks the natural advantages of his wealth and family, his father's name and his brother's fame. But he would consider himself a man of his word, certain recent failures aside.

"My name is Gaius Sempronius Gracchus, son of Tiberius, grandson of Publius, twice tribune of the people. I am pleased to meet you."

[ no worries, I only planned to use a tiny bit of actual!Latin just for the general feel of the thing <3 ]

[oncewasroman]

"Yes. It's my native language actually," Rory replied, looking back up at the charts. "Most of it is information--lists--about different trades and supplies available for use. Some of them are maps and information about the surrounding area." He pointed to the lists as he mentioned them, hoping that might be a start. He could only imagine how frustrating it must be not to be able to decipher the information in front of you or even having a basis to work from.

Rory was the kind of person who would help someone whether they offered him anything in return or not -- it was sort of part of being a nurse. But, friendship would go a long way right about now. He just wasn't sure how he was going to explain his ability to speak Latin. Rory fought the urge to salute, he hadn't mentioned anything about being part of the Legion, but obviously with some titles like that there was some degree of importance to the man. Unfortunately, it was hard to shake the memories from his former life and once they were flowing it started to bleed into his personality. That was why Rory tried not to rely on the memories too often, but it seemed they were going to be invaluable now. It's also why instead of a normal greeting Rory found himself spitting out the following and mimicking Gaius Gracchus's form of speech "Rory Williams, son of Brian, former Centurion of the Twentieth Victorious Valeria Legion. It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

Rory mentally cursed himself for saying all of that because obviously it was going to raise some questions why an obvious non-Roman was sporting a title like Centurion, former or otherwise, as well as saying he was part of the 20th. Why did he do this to himself? Honestly, wouldn't it have just been easier to claim he'd learned Latin in his studies. He'd wait to see how Gaius Gracchus responded before sticking his foot even further into his mouth.

[notsocommon]

Helen made a habit of coming to check the fountain a few times per day, especially now that it had turned cold, and when she saw someone else keeping vigil she gave him a bit of a smile and tipped her head a bit in greeting. He was dry and dressed in what passed for winter clothing here so he wasn't fresh but his was a face she didn't recognize.

"When did you come in?" she asked, curious. She missed arrivals all the time, especially since there had been so many lately, and this was clearly one she had missed. No matter. She could rectify the situation now.

"Recently?"

[oncewasroman]

Rory hadn't heard anyone approach but, then again, he'd been sort of focused on other things. He looked over at the person who had approached. After his encounter with Ravi he'd made sure to at least not rush back out to the fountain, but it wasn't like he was just going to stay away completely if this was the only place to run into Amy.

"Yesterday," he admitted. He'd managed to find a place to sleep and had even managed a few hours before deciding to get back out here and properly dressed this time as well. "It's not so bad if you've got a coat and you aren't soaking wet," he said, nodding towards the fountain. After yesterday he really didn't want another person worrying about him.

[notsocommon]

"That does tend to help with keeping warm, I've found. These winter arrivals are brutal," Helen said. She tugged her own coat a little closer, trying to keep the wind out, and offered a hand to him to shake.

"My name is Helen, by the way. Helen Magnus. I found my way to our lovely little prison a few months ago. It was warmer then, at least, but no less frustrating."

[oncewasroman]

Magnus wasn't a common last name. He recalled his conversation with Ravi and thought the name sounded familiar. He might as well ask and introduce himself simultaneously. "I'm Rory Williams," he took her offered hand and gave it a shake. "Are you the same Dr. Magnus that Ravi mentioned to me? I only ask because it was my understanding that medical professionals are a bit limited here and I'm a nurse. I want to make myself useful if I can, I'm not sure how much trouble you all have gotten into here."

He's rambling so he trails off. Might as well confirm first.

[notsocommon]

"Ah, absolutely, I would be that Dr. Magnus," Helen said, shaking his hand.

"And yes, I would appreciate all the help I could get on the medical front. Doctors, nurses. I would take any sort of field medic I could find. There hasn't been much in the way of injury or illness here, honestly, but that's a good thing. Supplies are limited."

[oncewasroman]

Three medical professionals in a village that housed about 50 or so people was probably not too bad all things considered. Assuming that sickness and injuries were rare -- which so far it didn't sound like they had to worry about a plague at the moment.

"It's good to meet you then...all things considered I mean," Rory said, once the pleasantries of introductions were past. "I guess that's good thing. Ravi mentioned that...though apparently there are random gifts occasionally."