makemeasong | eastbound IC Inbox 💫

[ Clara reaches for his hand and holds onto him tightly. Pressing her lips together in a thin line, she looks up at him again. She isn't asking him not to go to the Mouse House, but she has to tell him she's worried. ]

After everything that happened in the tower, I'm really not that keen on you going down into a place where you'll be gassed until you leave. I know, I know, superior lungs and all-around biology. But nothing here plays by the rules.

[ He appraises her for a long moment, not saying anything at all, just contemplating her words and deciding not to react with his first instinct. She's afraid for him and he understands that in this world, that fear isn't entirely unfounded. Yet, he trusts his abilities in this case.

Still, he can make a concession. Squeezing her hand, he tries for a compromise. ]

I'm going down there, Clara, I have to. You know I do. But I'll text you, eh? Every hour. What do you say? If you don't hear from me once every hour, you have my permission to...raise hell - would that be the appropriate term?

[ He gives her a cheeky little smirk. ]

[ It's unexpected, the way her laugh bursts out of her, but laugh she does. When it dies down, she feels somewhat less tense, but not relaxed. ]

If you don't text me, if I don't hear from you, if you're even a second late, I'll do exactly what you gave me permission to do. People will be very annoyed.

Of course you would. Which is why I'll be perfectly on time. No! Not good enough - five minutes early. You'll be amazed.

[ He smiles again and pats her hand gently. ]

You look absolutely exhausted, by the way. When did you sleep last?

You have quite a knack for telling me when I look awful. Have you noticed that? [ Clara manages to eye him but he's also right. She doesn't answer the question though, not directly. ]

I'll sleep when you've come back. I can't miss my chance to let everyone know you're late when you inevitably are.

[ Shes hoping reverse psychology works on him or something, that the more she eggs him on about getting the timing off (which he has to admit happens frequently), the more punctual he'll be. ]

I'm an observer! I notice things.

[ They both know his talent for noticing things is questionable, at best, and inconsistent. But still, he does a very good job convincing himself otherwise. ]

I won't go until you've slept. So there; you'll have to now.

[ Clara looks up at him, searching his eyes and wanting to ask if he promises. She doesn't, because he promised her three times on that he wouldn't be anywhere without her, and three times he tricked her into going back to Earth while he stayed on Trenzelore. So, she doesn't say it. Instead, she huffs. ]

I'll wake up and you'll've already come back, half your memories gone. [ And no diary to shove in his face this time. ] Look, the kids are too important to wait, so at least say you'll try not to inhale too much or something. Can't you bypass something or other in there?

[ Clara gestures at his entire body. ]

You know, superior Time Lord physiology and all.

[ He gives her a crooked little smile before letting out a soft huff. ]

Trust me, Clara. I know what I'm doing.

[ Of course, he doesn't have the context of knowing he's broken multiple promises to her for her sake, to try and keep her safe. ]

[ Clara nearly laughs but instead she looks at the Doctor and holds his eyes. Many things are going through her mind as she stares at him, eyes narrowed. He has no clue what he's doing, that's the first thing. She does trust him, but not to come back in one piece and then tell her the truth about it. ]

Do you?

[ She continues to stare, like it's a quiet challenge, assessing him. ]

[ He opens his mouth to answer immediately, but the way she's narrowing her eyes at him, he's caught off guard and amused, by equal measure. He narrows his own eyes in return, though he looks more like a deer caught in headlights. ]

You doubt me?

[ Clara stares at him a second longer, then backs down, making a soft noise in the back of her throat. ]

Never. I doubt anything here being stable for long, and not being able to get to you if something happens.

[ His best laid plans never go accordingly, but he does always manage to fix things in the end. She might've been kidnapped, held hostage, or covered with some sort of unidentifiable substance by the end of it, but they'd always make it back to the TARDIS. ]

Nothing in Serthica knows or cares that you're you, and nothing plays by any rules we've ever seen before. You have to be careful, Doctor, more than usual.

[ Clara's entire expression changes, softens. ]

That's the only thing I'll make you promise. That you'll try to keep all of that in mind.

It's not your responsibility to get to me, Clara.

[ He reaches out, though, fondly tapping her nose. He knows, though. He knows she believes otherwise, that she's charged herself as his protector - much to his dismay (he doesn't need protecting!) and bewilderment. It's supposed to be the other way around; only the other way around. ]

But I can promise you that I'll be careful.

[ He absolutely does need protecting, and he's going to get said protection from a five-foot-no inches woman from Blackpool. Smiling softly at the tap, she wrinkles her nose affectionately. ]

Thank you.

[ She sighs softly and rubs her face with one hand. ]

I didn't know I could worry about so much at the same time. There's too much demanding attention at once up here. [ Her fingers tap the side of her head. ] Brain hardly knows where to start and focus.

[ That could also be because she's exhausted. ]

Welcome to my life. [ He smiles a little, in spite of everything. ]

Though, a simple and very small human brain generally isn't supposed to comprehend such an enormity of things all at once. It's taxing in a way it isn't for me.

[ Small brain in comparison to his, that is. ]

Can't shut that brain off, though, can you? I can.

[ She's never asked him to do anything like that for her before, soothe her mind, switch off her thoughts. Then again, neither of them has been in a situation like this together, either. It's never been so hard for her to sleep, not even when her mum died. ]

And do you think maybe you could stay, too? Just for a few minutes after I'm asleep.

[ It doesn't really matter one way or another because she'll never know. But she wants to at least think he's there, watching over her for a bit. ]

Where else would I go?

[ A blatant lie, they both know it, but the sentiment is genuine. He'll stay and make sure she's okay, he always will. Not forever, but long enough to be sure she's settled. ]

Put your head on my shoulder. When I do this, it happens instantly.

[ He could have put her to sleep without her consent from the outset, but he wouldn't violate her agency like that. ]

[ Sometimes, there are lies a person needs to hear, and that was one of them for Clara. She needed to hear that and she does as he says, settling with her head on his shoulder and one hand in his. ]

I expect to see you fiddling with something when I open my eyes again.

Not giving me enough credit. I'll be fiddling with many things when you wake up.

[ He smiles, and then just as quickly, he reaches out, tapping his index finger to her temple and sending her to sleep. ]

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