【 Ⅰ 】audio.

[expect]

So, uhm—

( by now rory's acquainted with the idea of using these things to talk to others, even talk to complete strangers, but using it to talk to everyone at once? he feels strangely self conscious. )

Hello… ( also, what is he supposed to say? the frown deepens. he should have planned this out better. maybe made a script. a beat and he hazards on. ) Okay, this is Rory… I mean, hello, my name is Rory; Rory Williams, and as it's starting to look like I really am going to be here for more than a day or two, which, might I add, is a bit weird, since usually it's about a day and a half on the outside depending on where the TARDIS has ended up… and, right, rambling. Sorry!

( he takes a breath! ) My name's Rory… I'm… from England, 2012 AD, I'm also a nurse if that's… ever going to turn up useful, sort of hope no, probably yes. But I am one. ( beat. should he say something else? what should he say? why does no one else find this as intensely awkward as he does??? he forges ahead, somehow managing not to repeat his name again and finishing strong with— )

It's nice to meet you? Oh, and if you need… anything, or something, right, okay, thanks. ( … now comes ten seconds of silence before he finds the off button. )

Comments

video;

[expect]

( wince. he did, didn't he. )

At least it means they won't forget?

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

No, they won't forget. But they also won't remember anything else. They're going to be concentrating so much on your unease and awkwardness and all the places where you messed up that the information will hardly be retained.

[ She's trying to help, honestly, even if it doesn't come off that way. ]

video;

[expect]

Where did I mess up? ( hang on!! )

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

The rambling. The filler words. Granted, there weren't many filler words, which is usually the biggest problem for public speakers, but definitely the rambling and getting off track.

[ A beat. ]

What's a TARDIS?

video;

[expect]

A sort of time machine. I'm not a public speaker, though?

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

A time machine? [ How do you even say that with such nonchalance? ] Not really. But we could work on that.

Re: video;

[expect]

Yeah, a time machine. ( he'd rather discuss that than public speaking lessons, let's be real. )

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

... You have a time machine. [ She hasn't forgotten about public speaking lessons! She's just momentarily distracted. ]

video;

[expect]

I don't. A friend does.

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

You have a friend who has a time machine. [ Trying to comprehend. ] So you travel through time?

Re: video;

[expect]

Yeahhh. Time and space.

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

And space! So I bet this is another big adventure for you, huh?

video;

[expect]

Sort of. ( he has to admit. but. ) But — usually we arrive somewhere, we don't just wake up.

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

Usually. [ Time machines, this is ridiculous. ] Having the ability to leave when you want is probably usually a thing too.

video;

[expect]

And there's usually not weeks of waiting before everything goes to hell.

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

Does that mean things usually go to hell right away?

Re: video;

[expect]

They're usually already there when we arrive.

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

I fail to see how that's any better.

Re: video;

[expect]

Less suspense?

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

At least suspense would give you more time to prepare.

Re: video;

[expect]

It seems like you're never prepared well enough.

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

For weird space-y things? I wouldn't think so. [ A beat. ] Are there aliens?

video;

[expect]

In space? Ankle deep in them.

video;

[resourcefulgirl]

Weird. Are they all green with those creepy huge eyes or...? [ She's curious, okay. ]

video;

[expect]

All sorts of stuff. Some of them look just like humans on the outside.