ᴄʟᴀʀᴀ ᴏsᴡᴀʟᴅ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
justimprobable) wrote2015-09-27 05:52 pm
justimprobable) wrote2015-09-27 05:52 pm
IC Inbox
Clara Oswald here! You've just missed me, so please leave a message at the sound of the beep.
Clara Oswald here! You've just missed me, so please leave a message at the sound of the beep.
Mademoiselle Oswald?
I hope you don't mind my calling you. This is d'Artagnan. If it's all right, I'd like to speak to you about Max Caulfield. If you have a moment.
I hope you don't mind my calling you. This is d'Artagnan. If it's all right, I'd like to speak to you about Max Caulfield. If you have a moment.
[She's quick to respond, her voice full of concern.]
Of course. Is she alright?
Of course. Is she alright?
Yes.
[ A slight pause. ]
So far as I know. She came to me about dreams she's been having, and said she'd talked to you and the Doctor.
She said that you believed Crane was responsible for her dreams. Will you tell me why?
[ A slight pause. ]
So far as I know. She came to me about dreams she's been having, and said she'd talked to you and the Doctor.
She said that you believed Crane was responsible for her dreams. Will you tell me why?
I'm not saying I'm correct, but I have my suspicions. Just two-and-two, really. He has a history of domestic terrorism with fear gas, and the timing is too close. He was enjoying getting under her skin, and not two weeks later she's suffering psychological torment? I'm not saying anyone should run him out of town, but I do think he needs to be considered.
[She doesn't mention that she's already spoken with him - in part because the outcome of that conversation has yet to be determined. But also, she doesn't want to come off as being too reckless.
Never mind that that's precisely her problem.]
I worked with teenagers back home, and trust me when I say they don't just come forward like this unless it's something serious. Max is being affected by someone, and Crane is the only lead I'm aware of.
[She doesn't mention that she's already spoken with him - in part because the outcome of that conversation has yet to be determined. But also, she doesn't want to come off as being too reckless.
Never mind that that's precisely her problem.]
I worked with teenagers back home, and trust me when I say they don't just come forward like this unless it's something serious. Max is being affected by someone, and Crane is the only lead I'm aware of.
[ Two and two. Dear God. He would never have put that two with the other two. It’s astonishing to him that anyone would immediately jump to this conclusion; that’s why he’s trying to understand why. ]
Crane is a terrible man. There’s no doubt about that. Frightening people, hurting people, is what he loves.
But this is…
You have to understand. This seems like such a leap to me. How can you be certain that Max is being affected, by anyone? All she could tell me was that she was having nightmares about something terrible that happened to her, and that…seems like a reasonable response to something terrible happening.
[ He pauses, and thinks about what he’s saying. He’s being more honest with Clara, less careful than he was with Max. He doesn’t want to give the wrong impression, though. ]
It’s not that I’m defending Crane. If he could get inside someone’s head, I think he’d do it happily – though, honestly? That's not one of his powers, and I don't think is is able. If he broke his parole I would act without hesitating, but I cannot do that without proof. Any Judge with a grain of logic in them would laugh this accusation out of the courtroom, and I wouldn’t blame them. I need more than a hunch. I need evidence.
Crane is a terrible man. There’s no doubt about that. Frightening people, hurting people, is what he loves.
But this is…
You have to understand. This seems like such a leap to me. How can you be certain that Max is being affected, by anyone? All she could tell me was that she was having nightmares about something terrible that happened to her, and that…seems like a reasonable response to something terrible happening.
[ He pauses, and thinks about what he’s saying. He’s being more honest with Clara, less careful than he was with Max. He doesn’t want to give the wrong impression, though. ]
It’s not that I’m defending Crane. If he could get inside someone’s head, I think he’d do it happily – though, honestly? That's not one of his powers, and I don't think is is able. If he broke his parole I would act without hesitating, but I cannot do that without proof. Any Judge with a grain of logic in them would laugh this accusation out of the courtroom, and I wouldn’t blame them. I need more than a hunch. I need evidence.
[Clara gets a lovely red scarf! And some snickerdoodles. And, naturally, a card, thanking Clara for her support and wishing her a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.]
Hello, Clara? How are you?
[Because guess who spoke to the Doctor not too terribly long ago. After waiting and giving Clara time to readjust to being in the city and also hopefully talk to the Doctor, it's Max's turn to worry about her, instead of the other way around.]
[Because guess who spoke to the Doctor not too terribly long ago. After waiting and giving Clara time to readjust to being in the city and also hopefully talk to the Doctor, it's Max's turn to worry about her, instead of the other way around.]
[Clara picks up on the concern in Max's voice, and immediately replies. The possibility of Max speaking to the Doctor doesn't cross her mind, and she can't imagine why the girl would take such a tone with her.]
Me? I'm fine. Sorry I haven't been in touch, I took a bit of a trip.
How have things been with you?
Me? I'm fine. Sorry I haven't been in touch, I took a bit of a trip.
How have things been with you?
I'm glad to hear it. I missed you.
I'm better now. And you were right about Crane. It really was him. But I haven't had the dreams for awhile, now.
I'm better now. And you were right about Crane. It really was him. But I haven't had the dreams for awhile, now.
[I knew it, she doesn't say, because now isn't the time for proving a point to any certain Musketeer that didn't believe her.]
Oh, my stars. How did you find out? Did you talk to him again?
Oh, my stars. How did you find out? Did you talk to him again?
He showed himself. And then he shot me, and I woke up.
[It may have just been a dream, but Clara knows the effect that those can have. Her voice goes gentler still.]
I'm so sorry, Max. I wish that we could have stopped him first.
I'm so sorry, Max. I wish that we could have stopped him first.
I don't think he's going to bother me anymore. But I haven't told d'Artagnan yet. Our last conversation didn't exactly go well.
[Clara definitely understands that sentiment.]
He doesn't want to believe what Crane's capable of.
He doesn't want to believe what Crane's capable of.
I don't know if I should tell him. I feel badly about it, but he didn't exactly believe me the last time.
[Clara, how did you manage to turn this conversation around?]
[Clara, how did you manage to turn this conversation around?]
How about you leave it to me and the Doctor, and we'll let d'Artagnan know if something comes up?
[Because Clara is a master of manipulation, and will turn around conversations at all costs to keep from talking about herself.]
[Because Clara is a master of manipulation, and will turn around conversations at all costs to keep from talking about herself.]
... Alright. I should probably apologize to him for hanging up, though.
How are things with you and the Doctor, anyway? [Whoops.]
How are things with you and the Doctor, anyway? [Whoops.]
[Welp. She thought she was doing a pretty good job of avoiding it.]
Things are fine. Great, even. Why do you ask?
Things are fine. Great, even. Why do you ask?
Because he was really worried about you. He sounded upset.
... When was this?
[Because so far he'd done an excellent job at hiding 90% of his reactions from her.]
[Because so far he'd done an excellent job at hiding 90% of his reactions from her.]
I spoke to him about it being Crane. And then you came up... then we made plans for New Year's Eve.
So, if you find confetti still all over the place... sorry. That was me. I got as much of it as I could, though.
So, if you find confetti still all over the place... sorry. That was me. I got as much of it as I could, though.
Don't worry about the confetti, it'll come up.
[She barely even registers the part about New Years. She's just worried about the Doctor.]
... What did he say to you? About me, I mean.
[She barely even registers the part about New Years. She's just worried about the Doctor.]
... What did he say to you? About me, I mean.
It was more what he didn't say. He just mentioned you'd gone up to stay with someone for the summer holidays, but... I dunno. Something in his tone. He sounded like he was upset, but he obviously didn't want to talk about it.
[Clara takes a long pause, gathering her thoughts.]
... Something happened at home, and I've... changed, a bit. It's not bad, you don't need to worry. But I didn't want to tell him, at first, and he knew something was wrong. That's all.
... Something happened at home, and I've... changed, a bit. It's not bad, you don't need to worry. But I didn't want to tell him, at first, and he knew something was wrong. That's all.
Do you wanna talk about it? [Because Clara's been there for Max, and Max wants to do the same.]
Okay. I didn't really talk to him about it, but I could tell he was worried during New Year's.
Okay. I didn't really talk to him about it, but I could tell he was worried during New Year's.
Page 1 of 4