[Our Magic Place] RP with velvetdoc

[his_sarah_jane]

It was pretty and sunny with hardly a cloud in the sky. There was a small breeze blowing around the bench Sarah Jane waited on, ruffling her hair and the light blue skirt. It really was beautiful out today, the perfect weather in her opinion for a first date.

Leaning back in the bench, legs crossed and eyes closed, Sarah smiled contently into the sun as she waited for the Doctor to show up. He'd be here eventually, and until then, there was nothing better to do than enjoy the weather.

Comments

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

The Doctor was enjoying the sunny day driving along in Bessie, singing to the cows in the field on the side of the road, when he suddenly remembered he'd made a date with Sarah Jane. A date if you will. Human mating customs still bewildered him a bit.

He spun the car around, faster and more accurately than a car of that vintage should be able to and startling the cows in the process. He headed back to London at top speed. He didn't think he'd be too late.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

It's been minutes since the agreed upon time, and Sarah Jane still couldn't hear the familiar rattle of Bessie coming up the street. Slowly her eyes opened and she looked around, frowning.

"Oh, it's like him to forget about something like this," she muttered as she looked at the time on her watch, debating whether or not to find a pay phone and make a call to UNIT headquarters. Maybe five more minutes. Maybe.

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

He was only fifteen minutes late. The Doctor hoped she hadn't given up on him and his sharp eyes started searching for her the moment he rounded the last corner. To his relief, she was still there, sitting on the bench where they had agreed to meet, checking her watch.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

When she saw the Doctor drive up in Bessie, Sarah hopped off the bench and gave a small wave.

He hadn't forgotten.

"It certainly took you long enough to get here!"

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

He stopped the car with a flourish and a big grin.

"You're quite unforgettable, Sarah Jane. Now, shall I let you open your own door, or would you rather I tried to do it for you so you could have the opportunity to lecture me on how you are perfectly capable of doing it yourself." His eyes twinkled at her as he waited for her answer.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She chuckled, stopping at the curb as if to think the choice over. It was really not a hard one to make, given the mood she was in.

"I rather do enjoy lecturing you."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

"Well then, my dear, I shall not disappoint you."

He emerged from the car with a bright grin on his face, walked round to her side, and opened the door with an extravagant gesture.

"Your carriage awaits, madam."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah smiled for a moment before her eyebrows narrowed and she looked at the Doctor with a mock-stern expression.

"I am more than perfectly capable of opening my own door, Doctor. Chivalry is all and well, but certainly not necessary in this age anymore."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

"Not necessary, perhaps, but courtesy never goes out of style...although there was the city of Chenaw on Albrarx IV, where slamming doors in people's faces was a favoured greeting among friends. Raised rudeness to an artform, they did."

The Doctor arched an eyebrow at her. "The custom was unexpectedly abandoned during the next century when someone invented sliding doors. Amazing how quickly they were adopted as the only appropriate method of entry. On a more practical note, our dinner reservation is in half an hour, so whenever you're ready to go...." He crossed his arms over his chest and grinned at her, waiting for her to get into the car.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane chuckled despite herself as she stepped inside the car, purposely closing the door behind her before he had a chance to. She looked at him, almost as if studying him in a new light, before smiling brightly. "Dinner reservations? You have gone all out, haven't you, Doctor?"

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

"Given that this is my first time participating in this particular human ritual, I thought it best to do things properly."

He walked back around to the driver's side, picked something up off the back seat and handed it to her with a self satisfied grin. "Flowers...and chocolates. I read a book on the subject," he added proudly.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She looked almost flabbergasted when he handed her the flowers and chocolates. It had been a while since her last date, and certainly even longer since the last time a man had the forethought to bring her any sort of gifts. Sarah sniffed the bouquet for a moment before looking back at him from behind the flowers.

"...are you sure you haven't been taking lessons from Harry instead? I, oh well I certainly didn't expect anything like this. Thank you."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

He almost wished he had a camera, she looked so cute peering at him through the flowers.

"Right, then, off. Not a moment to lose. And no I haven't been taking lessons from anyone named Harry or George or even John."

He didn't bother opening his own door, but took advantage of his long legs to enter over the side of the car. A quick turn of the key and they were off.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"All this from a book?" Sarah laughed warmly, finally placing the flowers and chocolate on her lap to watch the passing road. "I'm impressed."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

"Well, it's not as though I learnt about human dating customs as a teenager. In fact I can barely remember being a teenager." The Doctor gave Sarah a bemused look. "I'm not sure how it would translate into Gallifreyan terms at all."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"And we've already gone over the fact that I don't exactly have the lifespan for any Gallifreyan courtship rituals," she replied with a laugh. "I'd probably be an old woman by the first kiss."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

"And we can't have that." The Doctor made a sharp turn into the parking lot of the restaurant and parked. "I hope you're hungry."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Famished."

Once the car is parked, Sarah Jane opened the passenger side door and stepped out of the vehicle before the Doctor had a chance to act chivalrously again. Her eyes scanned the restaurant entrance, curious to see what sort of place he had picked out.

"It certainly looks nice enough."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

The Doctor noticed Sarah jumping out of the car and gathered that she didn't want to snap at him again. He presumed the flowers and chocolates had put her in a better mood.

He had made the reservation at one of his favourite restaurants, a small Italian place with a good wine list. He hoped she wasn't expecting something more modern and trendy.

"They make the best pasta I've had outside of Italy." He offered her his arm, half expecting that she wouldn't take it.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane looked at his arm for a moment, and then up at him, and with a carefree smile linked hers with his. It was a date, after all. They might as well act like it.

"Well, that has to be good if you're the one giving it such a praise," she replied as they started to walk in. "Italian is always a good choice."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

When they walked through the door, the Doctor slipped away and spoke quietly to the owner for a moment, before turning to Sarah.

"The back garden is open, if you'd like to eat outside."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

The idea of eating in the back garden did sound rather romantic and Sarah nodded, finally pulling her attention away from a scrutiny of the restaurant.

"That would be a lovely idea, I think." She linked her arm back into his and beamed up at him. "What do you say, Doctor?"

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

"I asked you." He said with a grin as he nodded to the owner.

They were lead to a table for two under a brightly coloured umbrella, and the Doctor, with a twinkle in his eye, pulled out Sarah's chair for her and braced himself for the inevitable explosion.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"First off, just because you're playing the gentleman here doesn't mean you're incapable of giving input on whether or not we eat out here or inside," Sarah began, although a quick look around the garden made her happy they did chose this table.

It was beautiful out still, and the flowers were finally in bloom and the whole area just seemed serene and gorgeous. But she wasn't done with the lecture yet. She gestured to the chair and continued.

"Secondly, I am more than capable of pulling out my own chair. It's a sweet sentiment, but completely unnecessary in today's age."

[velvetdoc.livejournal.com]

"Excuse me, I assumed I gave my opinion when I asked if the garden was open. And as for the chair...well, I just like the spark in your eyes when you're riled at me." The Doctor grinned brightly at her.