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~~HEY WOW LOOK WHO'S FINALLY GOT ANOTHER ENTRANCE POST.~~

Rose Tyler, at the Bar, with -- you guessed it -- chips. Also, people-watching, which is a verb and not a noun so therefore she is not with people-watching, but merely is people-watching, in case clarification was required.

She is very bored and would like distractions, plz.

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"Human designated Rose Tyler," A voice that might well be familiar greets. "The food you are consuming has little nutritional value. This is detrimental to your health. This is unacceptable."

Familiar, yes -- just like all those other Daleks from a couple months ago.

Rose freezes, then stares at it. She isn't sure she quite believed it when Ace told her, but. A Dalek in the bar.

...

"How comes you know my name?"

"Are you from a point in time before our meeting?" Dalek asks, it's manipulator arm reaching for the chips.

The chips are slid down the Bar slowly, though Rose still eyes the Dalek. She is not quite sure whether to run or not.

"Which meeting? An' how comes you've not exterminated me already?"

"Utah, America, Earth, Time Unknown," The Dalek says. "Violence is prohibited in the bar."

"Utah--"

Rose blinks. Lets go of the chips. And stares at the Dalek even more.

"Oh. Oh. You are kiddin' me."

The Dalek quickly looks through a dictionary, then a database of slang terms.
"No," It says after about half a minute. "I am not 'kiddin'' you."

"You're here. You're that Dalek an' you're here--"

Now? Rose doesn't know whether to run away, or laugh.

She stands and carefully approaches, but not near enough to touch. She might feel a bit safer now, but not that safe.

"...is it true what Ace said? You're tryin' t'be a counsellor?"

"I have been providing therapy for patrons at this bar," Dalek replies solemnly. "They have found it very helpful."

...

"Helpful," Rose echoes. "I'll bet, with that oh-so-soothin' voice of yours. How many people've tried to kill you?"

Beat.

"Again?"

"Violence," The Dalek says sternly. "Is prohibited in the bar. Patrons obey this rule."

"Yeah," Rose agrees, but dubiously. "All of 'em? Ace seems awful close to breakin' it with you, I reckon."

She's not sure which side she'd be on in such a fight. On the one hand, Dalek. On the other -- Dalek!

(It's a very confusing mental battle. The Dalek needs its own name, clearly.)

(It has been considering 'Elizabeth')

"Ace will obey the rules. Any attempts on my life will result in her arrest," The Dalek says. "I do not intend any harm. She is unprovoked. I have merely been researching."

Rose isn't convinced, of any of it, but says nothing for a moment and continues eyeing the Dalek.

"...what the hell've you been researchin' in a bar?"

Y'know, this whole conversation? Is starting to get awful surreal.

"I have been researching into human behavioural patterns," Dalek says. "Some of it is remarkably consistant with the work of 78th Century (Terran Time) Rathalaxian Humanologist B. Wolf, who theorised that humans are confused and prone to inefficient and self-destructive behaviour," It sounds just the tiniest bit smug. "Before the Rathalaxians were destroyed, that is."

The B. Wolf gets a blink--

Okay, the whole thing gets a blink, but still.

"Let me guess -- by themselves?" Rose shakes her head. "We like bein' inefficient, I reckon. Not as boring."

Huh. She's discussing Rathalaxian humanology with a Dalek.

"No. They were exterminated prior to the Time War," Dalek says. "It is possible to not be boring without being inefficient. The Rathalaxians opted for a society in which people were directed to their appropriate tasks by means of mental implants, and interest and fun were simulated during these tasks to promote enthusiasm for their jobs. This, when they were attacked, made for excellent soldiers. Humanity, however, would be less receptive to such a strategy."

...

"Right, cause that sounds a whole lot more interestin'."

Rose considers her chips for a moment, but they're cold now, so she turns back to the Dalek. "That part'f what you're researchin'? How much we don't fit in to some weird alien thing? We're just unpredictable like that."

"I am studying human behavioural patterns and comparing them with patterns of species all over time and the universe, in addition to their own studies of humans," Dalek says. "It is a most rewarding research." If the Dalek could do tones of voice, that would be sarcasm.

Rose manages to catch it, and grins. Oddly, it is not an entirely unsympathetic grin, though she'd deny it.

"Oh yeah, that sounds like you're havin' loads of fun. What with all the different types of people here. Spaceship pilots an' everythin'. All that an' counsellin' too -- how're you findin' time for this conversation?"

"I am not short of time." Dalek replies. It seems to consider something for a moment, and then turns and trundles away.

"No," she agrees, and watches it go, thoughtfully.

Dalek inna bar had to be that Dalek, didn't it?

The universe, Rose thinks (and not for the first time), has an odd sense of humour.

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