[ The Doctor squeezes her as tightly as he can with one arm still raised high to the sky, the sound of the sonic screwdriver pulsating a tone most of the souls are aggravated by. He buries his face into the crook of her neck, practically breathes her in, reassured that she's okay, she's alive — and he'll check her properly for scrapes and injuries later. They've still got to get out of this district.
He steps out of their embrace just enough for him to snatch her hand in his, gripping it tight. The running isn't over just yet. ]
Let's get out of here. We can talk all about it once we've gained a little distance.
[ Though they're two individuals now, he still doesn't doubt that the lot of them could overwhelm them, possibly even come after his screwdriver, which would really, really make him cross. ]
[Her hand is trembling when he takes hold of it, and all she can do is nod in response to what he's said. She trusts him more than anyone, and feels safe with him. So she tries to relax, even as his lanky legs lurch into motion and she's pulled along with him.
It's like she's on autopilot as she runs her fastest to keep up. She doesn't look back, doesn't do anything but focus on what's ahead. But eventually her lungs start to burn and she's reminded she's very much so alive, and she starts to slow down.]
Maybe -
[She stumbles a bit, but his hold on her hand tug her along and keep her on her feet.]
[ The Doctor keeps going. He runs and he runs until he can’t hear the sounds of the cries and shouts and wailing, the slap of feet chasing after them in an attempt to overwhelm. He keeps a hold on Clara’s hand and steers her forward until they’ve made enough headway that the sounds have faded, and they've wound around the city so many loops that it’d be impossible to follow them.
Only when they’ve entered an isolated part of the city — close enough to the main square that they might be able to use it as a means of escape, a means of defense, or a means to call for help — does the Doctor stop. He turns to face Clara, somewhat abruptly (sorry, Clara), and lets go of her hand to lean in and take her face in both of his hands. He meets her eyes, and checks for any scrapes or scratches or bruises or any other signs of harm, and he studies her expression to look for the fear and any other possible signs of distress.
Give him a reason to go back there and show those people just what it means to cross the Doctor — but no. No, it isn’t their fault. Ultimately it isn’t anyone’s fault. Sedorum simply turns desperate souls more desperate. ]
You’re all right now. [ He can still hear the sound of her sobbing his name over the comms. He moves in to press a quick kiss to her forehead before he pulls back and lets his hands drop back to their sides. ] You’re all right.
[She's trembling by the time they actually stop, eyes wide and brimming with tears. The kiss to her forehead earns her looking up at him, bewildered and confused about how this could go so far downhill so quickly. As much of a realist as Clara can be, she desperately wants to believe in the good in others. And she wants nothing more than to be good herself. Right now, she feels like a monster, one that set off the greed and darkness inside those souls.
She turned them into monsters and put herself in a position to be attacked. And she can't understand why she continues to mess up by doing this.]
All right? I could've wound up in Purgatory.
[she realizes, not really knowing the truth behind the matter. Viveca's only made them appear to be souls. But what would have happened to her if she had been killed just now? She could've been taken away from the Doctor, never able to find her way back to him.
That thought makes her want to be closer to him. They're already standing directly in each other's space, but it doesn't feel close enough. There's a choked sob as she tries to muffle the sound from existing. People here feed off weakness. She hides it away and buries it in a hug, his taller form shielding her from the sight of others for just a moment more.]
[ The Doctor’s arms go around her without hesitation, helping to shield her from whatever it is she needs to be protected from. It’s what he does; it's what he'll always do.
He knows what Clara set out to accomplish and admires her for trying; really he does. He wouldn't deign to stop her from doing whatever it is she needs to do to try and help people because that is something she will always do. But the people in Sedorum ... they're different. They're tortured and tarnished and unfortunate souls, and for all they might recognize a good thing when they see it, it's much too rare, much too fleeting for them to give it up. They'll want as much as they can get because they know it won't come again too soon.
It's desperation that leads their hearts here, and Clara simply won't ever have enough to satiate them.
He gently strokes her hair, murmuring reassurances to calm her down and bring her back to herself. ]
[It feels like all too often, she's exposing vulnerabilities and leaving herself open and emotional in the middle of missions. Sometimes it makes it hard to see why the orb keeps her around at all, but she knows that even with the upset she's feeling now that she's done some good here too.
There's children here she spends time with and helps. That good balances out the chaos she's unintentionally unleashed.
And she's done something for the Doctor, too. That thought presses into the forefront of her mind as she pulls back out of the hug just enough to shift and dip her hand into the pocket of her dress. She pulls out something, glancing around to ensure they're pressed safe and close together before she opens her hand to reveal his watch to him.]
I noticed you were without it. So I tracked down who had it and won it back for you.
[There's a pause, her eyes looking up to his as she tries to piece together what he must be thinking right now.]
I kept it safe.
[For him.
Because it's a part of him, and therefore it's important to her. It's with a shake of her hand that she urges him to take it and put it back on.]
[ It does take a moment, the Doctor simply staring down at the trinket in her hand and remembering that — oh, right, yes, he did have a watch once, and he did barter it off in a bit of gambling when he'd been ... well, going through something. Funny how things like this can be forgotten so easily in the face of bigger, greater, scarier other things.
But he recognizes the watch in all of its insignificance, the slightly scratched gold wristband, the large circular face also just a bit scuffed up from wear and tear. He doesn't even remember where he'd snagged it from or how, and he stares at it like it's something foreign, like it isn't something that had been around his wrist since he'd regenerated. Prompted by Clara jiggling it towards him to accept it, the Doctor curls his fingers over its front face and swallows. ]
You didn't — [ He huffs a soft exhale, feeling foolish and uncharacteristically with a lack for words.
He tries again. ]
Clara, if you got yourself into any sort of trouble winning this old thing back for me, I'll be very cross.
[ But his smile is soft and touched when he puts it back around his left wrist, right where it belongs. ]
[She laughs through the remains of her tears, looking pleased once the watch is back in its proper place. Her smile is a little shaky, but she manages to keep it intact. And it stays on her face as she crosses her arms over her chest, trying to interject as much Lancashire sass into her pose as possible.
Anything to lighten the mood.]
I'm not sure I approve.
[But it's hard to stop smiling up at him in that lovesick sort of way she's prone to doing, even as she takes a step back to give him a little space.
She likes the fact that she's answered his question without giving him a proper answer at all. Of course she went through trouble to get the watch, and went through even more trouble fighting to keep it just now. It's why she had fought so hard to get away, why she had reached out to him screaming for his help. But he doesn't need to know that. All that matters is the watch is back where it belongs, and they're together to face whatever other horrors Sedorum has in store.]
Hah. [ He boops her nose lightly. ] Are you sure it's not you sounding like me?
[ But he takes a moment to admire his returned not-treasure-that-has-now-become-treasure, not wanting to think of what it took Clara to get it back.
No. No, he won't think of it if only because he's got a very large imagination and it'll take him places, and those places might not be good ones. Certainly not ones where he might follow the trail back to whoever he'd lost this watch to and then do something that won't make him the Doctor that Clara knows and loves.
So! ]
Right. Now, why don't we head a little bit that way, then? [ A light gesture to the busier parts of the city, the least 'dangerous' as it were. ] We could get something to eat. Maybe buy another lock, eh?
[She decides, reaching up to give a quick straighten to his bowtie. Her palm presses against his chest soon after, other hand reaching over to securely take hold of his.]
Both is good.
[And like the good old days, she lets him take the lead and follows along at his side. There's no reckless charging forward, no need to be the boss. It's just the Doctor and Clara Oswald, hand in hand, making the most out of their current adventure.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
o ya action —;
[ The Doctor squeezes her as tightly as he can with one arm still raised high to the sky, the sound of the sonic screwdriver pulsating a tone most of the souls are aggravated by. He buries his face into the crook of her neck, practically breathes her in, reassured that she's okay, she's alive — and he'll check her properly for scrapes and injuries later. They've still got to get out of this district.
He steps out of their embrace just enough for him to snatch her hand in his, gripping it tight. The running isn't over just yet. ]
Let's get out of here. We can talk all about it once we've gained a little distance.
[ Though they're two individuals now, he still doesn't doubt that the lot of them could overwhelm them, possibly even come after his screwdriver, which would really, really make him cross. ]
no subject
It's like she's on autopilot as she runs her fastest to keep up. She doesn't look back, doesn't do anything but focus on what's ahead. But eventually her lungs start to burn and she's reminded she's very much so alive, and she starts to slow down.]
Maybe -
[She stumbles a bit, but his hold on her hand tug her along and keep her on her feet.]
Maybe we've outrun them?
no subject
Only when they’ve entered an isolated part of the city — close enough to the main square that they might be able to use it as a means of escape, a means of defense, or a means to call for help — does the Doctor stop. He turns to face Clara, somewhat abruptly (sorry, Clara), and lets go of her hand to lean in and take her face in both of his hands. He meets her eyes, and checks for any scrapes or scratches or bruises or any other signs of harm, and he studies her expression to look for the fear and any other possible signs of distress.
Give him a reason to go back there and show those people just what it means to cross the Doctor — but no. No, it isn’t their fault. Ultimately it isn’t anyone’s fault. Sedorum simply turns desperate souls more desperate. ]
You’re all right now. [ He can still hear the sound of her sobbing his name over the comms. He moves in to press a quick kiss to her forehead before he pulls back and lets his hands drop back to their sides. ] You’re all right.
no subject
She turned them into monsters and put herself in a position to be attacked. And she can't understand why she continues to mess up by doing this.]
All right? I could've wound up in Purgatory.
[she realizes, not really knowing the truth behind the matter. Viveca's only made them appear to be souls. But what would have happened to her if she had been killed just now? She could've been taken away from the Doctor, never able to find her way back to him.
That thought makes her want to be closer to him. They're already standing directly in each other's space, but it doesn't feel close enough. There's a choked sob as she tries to muffle the sound from existing. People here feed off weakness. She hides it away and buries it in a hug, his taller form shielding her from the sight of others for just a moment more.]
no subject
[ The Doctor’s arms go around her without hesitation, helping to shield her from whatever it is she needs to be protected from. It’s what he does; it's what he'll always do.
He knows what Clara set out to accomplish and admires her for trying; really he does. He wouldn't deign to stop her from doing whatever it is she needs to do to try and help people because that is something she will always do. But the people in Sedorum ... they're different. They're tortured and tarnished and unfortunate souls, and for all they might recognize a good thing when they see it, it's much too rare, much too fleeting for them to give it up. They'll want as much as they can get because they know it won't come again too soon.
It's desperation that leads their hearts here, and Clara simply won't ever have enough to satiate them.
He gently strokes her hair, murmuring reassurances to calm her down and bring her back to herself. ]
I would never let it happen.
no subject
There's children here she spends time with and helps. That good balances out the chaos she's unintentionally unleashed.
And she's done something for the Doctor, too. That thought presses into the forefront of her mind as she pulls back out of the hug just enough to shift and dip her hand into the pocket of her dress. She pulls out something, glancing around to ensure they're pressed safe and close together before she opens her hand to reveal his watch to him.]
I noticed you were without it. So I tracked down who had it and won it back for you.
[There's a pause, her eyes looking up to his as she tries to piece together what he must be thinking right now.]
I kept it safe.
[For him.
Because it's a part of him, and therefore it's important to her. It's with a shake of her hand that she urges him to take it and put it back on.]
no subject
But he recognizes the watch in all of its insignificance, the slightly scratched gold wristband, the large circular face also just a bit scuffed up from wear and tear. He doesn't even remember where he'd snagged it from or how, and he stares at it like it's something foreign, like it isn't something that had been around his wrist since he'd regenerated. Prompted by Clara jiggling it towards him to accept it, the Doctor curls his fingers over its front face and swallows. ]
You didn't — [ He huffs a soft exhale, feeling foolish and uncharacteristically with a lack for words.
He tries again. ]
Clara, if you got yourself into any sort of trouble winning this old thing back for me, I'll be very cross.
[ But his smile is soft and touched when he puts it back around his left wrist, right where it belongs. ]
no subject
[She laughs through the remains of her tears, looking pleased once the watch is back in its proper place. Her smile is a little shaky, but she manages to keep it intact. And it stays on her face as she crosses her arms over her chest, trying to interject as much Lancashire sass into her pose as possible.
Anything to lighten the mood.]
I'm not sure I approve.
[But it's hard to stop smiling up at him in that lovesick sort of way she's prone to doing, even as she takes a step back to give him a little space.
She likes the fact that she's answered his question without giving him a proper answer at all. Of course she went through trouble to get the watch, and went through even more trouble fighting to keep it just now. It's why she had fought so hard to get away, why she had reached out to him screaming for his help. But he doesn't need to know that. All that matters is the watch is back where it belongs, and they're together to face whatever other horrors Sedorum has in store.]
no subject
[ But he takes a moment to admire his returned not-treasure-that-has-now-become-treasure, not wanting to think of what it took Clara to get it back.
No. No, he won't think of it if only because he's got a very large imagination and it'll take him places, and those places might not be good ones. Certainly not ones where he might follow the trail back to whoever he'd lost this watch to and then do something that won't make him the Doctor that Clara knows and loves.
So! ]
Right. Now, why don't we head a little bit that way, then? [ A light gesture to the busier parts of the city, the least 'dangerous' as it were. ] We could get something to eat. Maybe buy another lock, eh?
no subject
[She decides, reaching up to give a quick straighten to his bowtie. Her palm presses against his chest soon after, other hand reaching over to securely take hold of his.]
Both is good.
[And like the good old days, she lets him take the lead and follows along at his side. There's no reckless charging forward, no need to be the boss. It's just the Doctor and Clara Oswald, hand in hand, making the most out of their current adventure.]