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

[voice]

[timecapture]

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

Clara, what happened?

[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.]

[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.]

[justimprobable]

Longer than either of us can imagine.

[Four and a half billion years. She doesn't want to say it, not again. Saying it will make her chest clench, and her eyes sting, and she's trying to be strong here.]

And you don't need to worry about me. Truly.

[timecapture]

That bad, huh? Well, what should I do?

[justimprobable]

He's going to need his friends right now. That's all you need to be.

[timecapture]

I'll try.

[Clara, you forget that Max is awkward.]

[justimprobable]

You'll do great.

[And honestly Max, the Doctor is the most awkward of them all. He owns awkward.]

[timecapture]

Yeah. [But really, she's not so sure. She's not about to go trying to replace Clara, but she has no idea how to handle this.]

But you'd better not be a stranger, you hear?

[justimprobable]

I won't. I'm still looking out for you, remember? No matter what, I'll always have your back.

[timecapture]

And I'll have yours, too.

[justimprobable]

[She just smiles in reply, even though Max can't see her.]

See you 'round, Max.

[And with that, she ends the call.]