"How about just 'A'?" Rose suggested.
She was lounging on the chair, the magazine she was reading tossed to one side. Jack was on his back, working on some wiring under the console. The Doctor had been working, but now leaned against the console, tossing the silver studded ball from hand to hand.
"No." he said with conviction.
"Why not?" Rose challenged.
"Had an old companion with a similar name; it's too close," he replied.
"All right," Rose said slowly, "How about Rani? I had a classmate named Rani when I was a kid. It's a nice name."
"No."
This negative was even more adamant.
"What's wrong with this one, then?" Rose's tone was slightly incredulous.
"Yeah, what's wrong with it? Sounds good."
Jack emerged from under the console and stood up, hands on hips. The Doctor shot him a glare and went back to tossing the ball.
"Long story. Try another one."
"We're running out of syllables here, Doctor," Rose grated.
The only reply she got as a manic grin.
"Nee sounds good," Jack suggested, "Short and sweet."
The Doctor rolled his eyes.
"Never saw Monty Python, have you?" he asked in a patronising tone.
"Monty Who?"
"Never mind. Next!"
"Next what?"
Aranea emerged from a corridor, looking at them curiously. Rose sat up immediately, her lips clamping shut as she tried not to grin in embarrassment. Jack gave a chuckle as he adjusted from foot to foot.
"Just talking about names," he said with an over-casual shrug.
"Oh." Aranea said, although her face spoke volumes.
"I've got the kettle on," she went on," Any orders?"
They made their usual requests; Irish coffee for Jack, tea with two sugars for the Doctor, and milky tea with one sugar for Rose. As Aranea turned back down the corridor, Rose spoke out on impulse.
"Nya."
Aranea paused, and turned to face Rose.
"Yes, Rose?" she asked.
Barely able to conceal a grin, Rose shook her head slightly.
"Uh, it's nothing - much, I meant it's nothing much," she stammered, "Could you check that we've still got..um.. Hobnobs in the cupboard?"
"All right." Aranea smiled, but her face grew quizzical as she turned away. Everyone seemed to be a strange mood this afternoon.
Once she was out of earshot, the Doctor gave Rose a baffled and slightly indignant look.
"Nya?" he asked, as if it were the most preposterous thing he had ever heard.
"If you tell me that sounds like an old Companion's name, I'm gonna smack you."
Rose raised a finger in warning.
"But it does sound - Ow!"
Rose had not waited for the Doctor to finish before making good on her threat. The Doctor looked hurt as he rubbed his stricken arm. Rose tossed her head at him, grabbed her magazine and practically skipped down the corridor after Aranea.
Jack shook his head and grinned.
"Wha'?" the Dcotor demanded.
"You got so owned," Jack gloated, as he followed in Rose's wake.
Alone, the Doctor shrugged.
"Not my fault if I had a lot of Companions," he said, "Wonder what Nyssa would make of this?"
The lights in the console room flickered and changed colour for a while before going back to normal. The Doctor looked irritably at the central column.
"Don't you start," he warned.