ᴀɴɴᴇxᴇᴅ — ɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ

[twelfthsong]

  

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[twelfthsong]

😒 Just because you're my boss I'm not here at your beck and call, Clara.

[makemeasong]

Don't sass me.

Fine, do you want me to come now, or later? Please be specific.

[twelfthsong]

Are you free? Do you want to come over now?

[makemeasong]

Yeah, I can. Just..gimmie 5 minutes. 10.

[ She doesn't know if she's actually ready to pretend to his face that she's fine but she's about to try. ]

— action

[twelfthsong]

🏃‍♂️

[The Doctor's actually kicked his door ajar for once so he can hear her while he works. No he's not like some excited puppy waiting for his owner to return he's just happy that they aren't fighting. That they're trying to move past...whatever it was they were going through.]

[makemeasong]

[ It takes a few seconds for Clara to decide she isn't backing out and makes her to his flat. She feels like she has to be careful, and she wants to be without making him feeling like he's doing something wrong.

Knocking softly on the doorframe she smiles just a little. ]

So you figured out emojis, huh?

[twelfthsong]

[He pushes back with a little bit of force from his chair that he's commandeered from somewhere else in the compound to spin around to face her. He's still got his microscope goggles on and he probably looks a bit silly.]

Were the pores on your nose always that big? [He pushes them up onto his head without waiting for an answer.] Ah nope, normal size. And yes I did. Sassy keeps sending them to me I might as well try to keep up.

[makemeasong]

Did you know she's a princess? She could probably you imprisoned or something if she didn't like that nickname.

[ But Clara's teasing gently and she does press her lips together to keep from laughing at how silly he looks before he pushes the goggles up his head. ]

Not that she would. She likes you. And I happen to know sassy people who can stand up to your snark are your favorite type. [ see: her and River. And if she'd known them, Donna and Amy. ]

[twelfthsong]

Even if she did I could probably get out. [He hadn't taught Harry Houdini everything he knew for nothing after all.

The look in his eye clearly says that Clara is right. He does like people with a bit of sass and who could stand on their own two feet but he doesn't verbally confirm it.

He pushes his chair over to a shelf filled with various odds and ends before picking up a rather unassuming brown package tied with some twine and some dried maple leaves tied through them. The Doctor hands it over to her and waits expectantly for her to open it. When or if she does, she'll find a more polished looking version of a sonic screwdriver, sleek and small with elements of a burnt orange and a dark blue. When it lights up, the same dark orange illuminates from within.]

[makemeasong]

[ Clara takes the package and when she sees the leaves, she touches them gently and takes a breath, letting it out. He knows the important bits. Enough to build back their friendship, she hopes.

Sitting down in the only other chair in the room, Clara carefully begins to unwrap the box and recognizes what it is immediately and her gaze shoots up to meet his before picking the sonic up and pressing the button. A slow smile spreads on her face, revealing her dimples. ]

Is this for me? My very own?

[twelfthsong]

[The dimples are a good sign he thinks. They're usually a good sign because it means she's genuinely pleased about something and that's what he's starting to associate it with.]

It is. Do you like it?

[He motions towards it.]

I wasn't sure about the colours. I can always change them if you don't like them.

[makemeasong]

Hush, it's perfect. Thank you, Doctor.

[ Clara swallows and she's still smiling when she looks back at him. And she doesn't even ask how he did it because of course he can. ]

Can it do everything yours does? [ She's looking at it by turning it around in her hands as if a prized treasure. ]

[twelfthsong]

[A little bubble of anxiousness he didn't know he had been holding onto pops at that moment when she affirms that she likes it.]

Most things. There's some settings I still have to fiddle with - still doesn't work on wood, but we don't seem to have much of that around us.

[He tries to look stern but there's a clear look of pleasure in his expression.]

Don't do anything I wouldn't do with it.

[It was partly a peace offering and partly a way for him to make sure that she was safe when he wasn't around.]

[makemeasong]

What does that even leave?

[ She smiles again, lightly teasing, and carefully puts it back in the box, intending to keep the entire package. Glancing around the space, she sinks back a little into the chair. ]

What else are you working on in here?

[twelfthsong]

Exactly.

[He wants Clara to stay out of trouble especially in this war torn world that they've been thrown into. It's not tethering but it's something and he hopes that she recognizes that.

He gets up from his own seat striding over to the shelves he's pulled into his flat.]

I've been tinkering around with droid creation - nothing too advanced - some toys, and Tech and I are working on a stun gun module for the guns we're given on missions. [He drags out one of the little droids out that looks like a mechanical bird holding it out towards Clara but just as he gets an overlay - a flash of Obi-Wan strung up looking beat up and hurt and his brows furrow.]

[makemeasong]

[ Clara does. Maybe she wouldn't have without Obi-Wan's interference but she'll never know. ]

Oh, Leia's gonna love the droid and toys, speaking her language. [ Her eyes widen just a millimeter or so at the mention of a familiar name. ]

Figures you'd know Tech. It's all in the name, innit? [ Taking the bird, she holds it delicately and smiles before looking up and frowning as well. ]

Doctor? What's wrong?

[twelfthsong]

She doesn't need my help. [He sounds a little pouty about it. Despite all the grump he really does enjoy building and working with his hands especially if they're toys. That quality hadn't gone away.

He doesn't hear her question about Tech though because he's too preoccupied with a growing sense of dread in his stomach.]

Nothing it's fine. What were you saying?

[makemeasong]

[ He's lying and she knows it, but for now she decides to just keep an eye on him. ]

Tech. I uh...had a little bit more to drink than I meant to and he made sure I didn't fall on my face. He was nice about it at least.

[twelfthsong]

[The furrow in his brow now has a little more to do with what she's saying instead of the growing sense of dread. It's fine he thinks, it was probably nothing.]

Why were you drinking that much?

[makemeasong]

I didn't mean to. The alcohol is way stronger here and I didn't know when I ordered drinks with my supper.

[ She doesn't want him to worry and that is the truth. It's just not why she was drinking. ]

[twelfthsong]

[Because he doesn't know her face that well yet he takes what she says at face value. It's also partially out of not wanting to press her in a direction that would result in upsetting her. It's just the Scottish that doesn't help it.]

Right. Anyway the bird - if you wind the little lever there it'll fly around the room. I haven't sorted out the magic part of it yet but maybe -

[He's striding back towards her when suddenly he feels a jolt of pain run through his body starting at the back of his neck. In tandem he watches Obi-Wan cry out wordlessly in pain and his hand immediately goes to cup the spot where his chip is.]

[makemeasong]

[ Clara puts the bird aside immediately and stands up, bridging the gap between them. ]

Now I know you were lying, what's happening?

[twelfthsong]

[Before he cant get another word of reassurance past his lips he's crying out again as another jolt - stronger and longer this time - courses through his body. He's on his hands and knees, clutching the nape of his neck.

Perhaps he shouldn't have been so complacent about tethering - but how would he have known that it would tie him this intrinsically to Obi-Wan when despite their similarities? His eyes jolt to Clara's face. This, this is why he didn't want to tether with her.]

[makemeasong]

[ She's never heard him like this or seen him like this before aside from his regeneration and it feels like ice water floods her veins. Clara goes to her knees with him and she meets his gaze, swallowing heavily. It doesn't dissuade her; if someone's ever hurting the Doctor then she wants to know but that's never going to happen, and this isn't the time to say anything. ]

Can you cut yourself off from him? Temporarily somehow, can you? [ Like closing a door in his mind or something stupid she's heard on tv or read in a book. ]

[twelfthsong]

[All he can do is give a firm shake of his head. He hears Clara but he doesn't really hear her. His senses are flooded with flashes of where Obi-Wan is and he's trying in his own way to send comforting thoughts to his tether partner: this is temporary. It'll be over soon.

Finally he manages to gasp as the electricity in his body subsides. His chest heaves from a pain that may or may not be there.]

No. I don't know.