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[makemeasong]

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[thedreamer]

[ He'd carefully read through every reply on her broadcast to their group, everything related to the Child who presents a danger to them all, and yet, who has been toyed with and manipulated seemingly for his entire existence. That Clara advocates so strongly for the Child's life is of no surprise to the Doctor, though he does wonder and worry at the toll it's taken on her thus far.

When they have a quiet moment alone, he does want to...check on her. ]

Bit of a day - a few days, actually.

[ Understatement of the century, really. ]

[makemeasong]

[ She needs a break from the replies, so she's good with the excuse to tear her eyes away from her device for a while. Clara's smile at the Doctor is thin, but there. ]

Just a bit. Brushed it off already.

[ What a lie, but it's so big, she knows there's not a chance he'll believe her anyway. She'd watched him die, again, even if she knows it wasn't real. She'd watched him get old on Trenzelore but she'd saved him. Or at least she thought she had. This version of him is technically gone forever now. The tower had been keen to remind her. When she speaks again, her voice is softer, and she glances over at him. ]

That was all really, really awful. And now I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. I think I am, but — [ She pauses to look down at the device in her hands. ]

I didn't know the Child created the tower.

[thedreamer]

[ He knows she's lying and equally, he knows her well enough now to know that Clara knows that he knows she's lying. That all makes perfect sense...

But, it means there's no need to draw attention to it, the truth is plain between them. She's an absolute mess and he worries. He couldn't completely protect her - or any of them - from the tower; what lies ahead for them? ]

What's the right thing, Clara? What do you think - what does it feel like to you?

[ It's his version of helping and comforting. ]

[makemeasong]

[ Clara's quiet and fiddles with her device, trying to slowly come up with an answer. She thought she knew but does she? ]

If the Child can be helped, we have to try. But people are asking me questions I don't know how to answer. How long do we try? What if he can't be helped at all? What if he hurts more people while we're trying? And if he can't be helped, then what? Could we trap him indefinitely until we have a plan?

[ She takes a deep breath and lets it out heavily. ]

How do you do this?

[thedreamer]

[ While Clara is sleeping, in the vein of Father Christmas (whom he's always thought fondly of), on the bedside table near where she sleeps, the Doctor leaves a note, a box of some chocolates (all of which have at least one bite taken out of them, just so he could make sure they were an acceptable flavor), a small vase filled with half-dead flowers (all he could find!), and a small trinket that resembles a compass. The note just says- ]


HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARA OSWALD!
- LOVE, THE DOCTOR

[makemeasong]

[ Clara has no idea she's so close to her birthday. But leave it to a Time Lord to have it down. When she opens her eyes and sees the flowers, her forehead wrinkles in sleepy confusion. Pushing herself up, she sees the note and smiles softly. She warms instantly, her heart soft for him in new ways. He's her best friend; she was so afraid that things would be strained between them. But instead, all of the pieces have fallen into place.

When she sees the chocolates she laughs quietly under her breath, remembering jammy dodgers, once. Popping one into her mouth for breakfast, she hums. It's good, he picked well. She reaches for the trinket and turns it over in her hands, smiling even brighter. ]

You sneak.

Thank you, Doctor. I'm honestly pretty impressed you remembered. There's a lot to worry about.

[thedreamer]

Oh I never forget anything, you know that. Especially the important things. And you're very important. Top of the list!

[makemeasong]

[ Clara laughs again softly. ]

Surprised you found flowers that were half-alive, that was lucky of you.

Did you come in while I was sleeping?

[ It only occurs to her now, not that she minds. She had no idea she was such a heavy sleeper. Or maybe he's just very quiet, she isn't sure which. ]

action > cute snow things

[thedreamer]

[ Their rooms are adjacent to one another, something the Doctor had insisted on because he wants to be close to her. This place seems relatively calm compared to what they've dealt with lately, but he can't take any chances. Plus, it's inordinately fun, having their rooms close by and being able to knock on her door to drag her out and do things together.

So, witness one Doctor wearing a scarf and knocking insistently on Clara's door. ]

Clara! Get your coat, we're going out!

[makemeasong]

[ Clara doesn't mind being close to him, how could she? She's only just returned from helping in the kitchen when the knocking begins. She knows that knock by heart, even without him shouting demands, and she throws it open, head turned to one side as she stares up at him. ]

Going out?

[ She looks unimpressed for all of a second before grinning and doing exactly that, grabbing her coat and the big woolen scarf she found. This hasn't changed, and she's glad for it: even without the TARDIS, and even with her admission at the docks, this feels the same as always. ]

Where first? Have you been ice skating yet? Did you know there's something under the ice?

[ Clara can be just as rapid fire as him, and she's been holding it in, apparently. ]

[thedreamer]

[ She looks so perfectly like Clara, wearing that coat and scarf. Even better is seeing the smile on her face as she looks more at ease than he can recall her being in recent weeks. It's been a challenging time, to say the least, and he's grateful for her sake that they have this time to rest.

Tapping her nose playfully, he grins brighter. ]

Yes, no, and yes! If we're lucky, that something under the ice might join us while we're skating.

[makemeasong]

[ This is what she was afraid she'd ruin, it's what she's afraid she would ruin if the Doctor had truly understood what she'd tried to tell him. But when he taps her nose she can't help but grin again, then take his arm so he can lead her out of her room. ]

Would it be luck? I'm not so sure. Things in water have been terrifying on this planet, at least since I've been here.

[ She wrinkles her nose, unsure about being as eager as the Doctor. That's him, though, excited to see, needing to know, good or bad. ]

text. hope this is okay!!

[growlies]

( Red has been keeping to herself since she received a gift of a collar of all fucking things. She wonders if it came from Hades. Maybe it's going to send her right back to the Underworld whether she wants to go through a beacon or not. Either way, it's just further proof she can't really keep what she is a secret - not if someone out there knows well enough to send her a godsdamn collar, and she doesn't want it to come out in a moment like it did with Fei, because then Fei just fucking disappeared afterward before Red even had the chance to explain.

She doesn't want that to happen again with other people she cares about even if she realizes this whole place is temporary anyway. She is sending a message to Clara who already told her she could reach out to her at any time. So yeah, she does even if that's not exactly easy for her to do. It's evening so she figures everyone's done with their contributions to the Inn for the day, and she is playing with the collar in her pocket. )

Hey, do you have some time to talk?

ahhh i was planning to have clara also reach out to red so it's perfect!!

[makemeasong]

[ It's been a surprisingly not bad time so far, and Clara's just gotten back to her room after helping clean up in the kitchen. She's delighted to see Red's username pop up and she lets herself drop onto the mattress, messaging back within just a minute or two. ]

Absolutely. Come over? Or I can come to you. either way, all yours.

AW YAY so it works out perfectly then

[growlies]

I'll head to you. Just gonna grab some snacks and stuff. Just give me a few minutes.

( Her experience with Hermione and Emilia has taught her that it's good to bring snacks and drinks for like something like this, a girls night, or maybe it's just nice. She picks up a bottle of alcohol, glasses, grabs some snacks from the kitchen - just some dried jerky, crackers, and stuff like that really, but it's all placed in a basket. Not like there's pop tarts or anything here. Then she walks over to Clara's door and knocks on it. )

[makemeasong]

awesome. wear something comfy, i'm in pajamas.

[ She feels like that should be fine, they went through something together, pajamas are fine. Opening the door, she grins, then glances out in the hallway, and points at the door next to hers. ] Doctor. I think he's out now, but we're next door to one another. If he pops by, there's no stopping him. [ Stepping aside, she lets Red in and closes the door, smiling. ]

Seeing you in a non-stressful situation again is nice. Make yourself at home, I'm flopping down on the bed, so feel free.

[ There are no rules during Girl's Night. She does pause, though, unable to help asking a question—she needs to be sure nothing bad has happened, at least. ]

Everything okay?

un: absterge | slides into a girl's dms

[downswing]

You have sidestepped further hardship?

un: hide_and_seek | what a friend

[makemeasong]

[ Clara's gotten fond of Wangji's succinctness, the same way she's fond of the Doctor's rambling. And the fact that he's reached out means their friends whether they say it or not. It's what's in her heart. ]

Physically and mentally sound. This has been nice.

[ Did she say some choice things to the Doctor? Yes. But all in all, she's pretty okay. ]

Are you relaxing?

[downswing]

( G

i

r

l

. )


Respectfully decline.

train travel, part deux

[downswing]

You fare well?

[makemeasong]

[ This is why they're friends no matter what he says!!

When Clara receives the message, she idly wonders if the Doctor said anything to Wangji about being with her when they both went into that icy water for a flower. But for right now, she can actually say for the first time since Serthica: ]

I do, actually. I had a bath and everything. A bath.
have you been able to relax at all? you know, other than being forced to sleep.

[ It's weird, but compared to her last train ride that ended down a rabbit hole, she's trying to enjoy this one. ]

[downswing]

Between us, I suffered less turbulence.

audio. hope this is okay!! but i've missed them while life has kicked my butt

[damnable]

...so how's the virgin priestess life treating you, sweetheart?

this is more than okay!

[makemeasong]

[ Clara laughs softly, a little breathily on purpose because it's Red. ]

These people have no idea what I'm capable of.

YAY

[damnable]

( gods she has no right to sound so hot when she says stuff like that. )

That sounds like an incredibly sexy challenge actually. I don't know that even I know exactly what you're capable of though I'm eager to learn.