IC contact post for Mask or Menace

[timecapture]

Hey! This is Max. Sorry I can't pick up right now; I'm probably snapping pictures of cute animals or something. Leave a message! Or text.

Comments

[rassera]

[YES. A little beaten up, but alive.]

youre not missing much its hot and wet and mud gets everywhere


how are things there

[timecapture]

I'll bet.

Hectic. We've got a lot of people who need shelter. I'm helping out, but we've only got so much room. Hopefully, we don't run out.

[runningstart]

its ok im not worried

cuz ur gonna love it

[timecapture]

You're sweet. Thanks, Wally.

[rassera]

yeah with any luck well break this


and they wont even need to stay



getting theres the hardest part

[timecapture]

Don't worry about us. I'll help take care of everyone.

Just focus on not getting hurt and ending this.

[runningstart]

naahhhh

well kinda ok ill admit it

[runningstart]

merry xmas maximillion

[runningstart]

[and roughly a week later, a hot pink knit scarf with 'SYD' knit into one end and 'MATTERS' knit into the other arrives on her doorstep]

[timecapture]

[Immediately after she gets it, Max happily texts Wally again.]

font face= "Courier New">This is awesome! Thank you.

[runningstart]

what

oh

yeah totally np
hope you get some use out of it

whoops, html fail

[timecapture]

I will. Thanks.

How have you been, Wally?

[runningstart]

eh

i got caught up in that pan stuff down in heropa

[timecapture]

Holy crap, are you okay?

[justimprobable]

[The evening of the 12th, a small envelope smelling of smoke arrives at Max's front door. The note inside is written in Clara's bold, blocky handwriting.]

Max -

I'm afraid I have some unfortunate news, as well as a final request. The Doctor was sent home for a short time, and has returned with his mind wiped of our time together. I knew this was coming, but hoped that we would have longer before it caught up with us. He knows he had a friend named Clara, and he's aware that his memories of me are missing, but he doesn't recognize my face. It's best that this doesn't change. The safety of the universe depends on our separation.

Please check up on him when you can. He's gone through a torturous ordeal, and he needs friends, not a sad stranger. He's very bad at being alone, and if I could offer him any help I would. I'm afraid, however, that all I'll be able to give him is more pain. I've got no idea where I'll wind up, but I can't stay in Heropa right now. I'll let you know once I do.

Your friend,
Clara Oswald

[voice]

[timecapture]

[Yep, Clara's getting a phone call. Was she really expecting otherwise?]

Clara, what happened?

[runningstart]

it was crummy but im okay

gir

[runningstart]

gogo dragged me back home

i apologized to relevant ppl its all good

[voice]

[justimprobable]

[Her voice is quiet and weary. She's not sure if her body even can physically cry anymore, or if she's just too exhausted to work up any tears.]

It's a long story.

[Oh, that is such a bullshit answer and Clara knows it. Max deserves better for all her kindness.]

I told you he lost me, but I didn't tell you- ... I didn't tell you what happened next.

[voice]

[timecapture]

What happened next? I promise I'll take care of the Doctor for you, but please... tell me what's going on.

[She wouldn't want to accidentally start an incident with her lack of knowledge, after all.]

[timecapture]

Did you wanna talk about it?

[justimprobable]

[Clara takes a deep breath and gathers her thoughts.]

I died, and he went too far to fix it. He put all of time and space at risk, but we both knew it was wrong. We both knew we'd destroy universes to be together, and no one should be worth that.

[Her voice constricts a little.]

We both agreed to it. It's better this way, for everyone.

[timecapture]

You died?!

What happened to him to make him do something that awful? [It can't just be her death... right? Then again, Max accidentally went too far to save Chloe...]

[justimprobable]

I did something reckless, and neither of us could fix it. But it's okay, Max. I'm okay. We all face it in the end.

[She's spent more time reassuring people about her own death than she has thinking about it herself. It's a bit surreal.]

But he faced something worse. He was alone with his grief for a very long time, and no one should blame him for his pain. It was awful, and it hurts, but I would have done the very same in his shoes. And that's the problem. It's a risk that can't be taken.

[timecapture]

Yeah, but... is there anything I can do to help you?

... How long? [Because Max gets the feeling she needs to brace herself.]