Clara Oswald is going the long way round (alwaysbeenthere) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-08-08 22:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, clara oswald, olivia moore |
Who: Clara and Liv
What: Reunion and catching up
When: Recently
Where: Beach
Warnings: Low
Status: Log | Complete
Liv was having some major cravings for alcohol. She knew it was because of the brain. It’s not like it did much to her otherwise. But she was tired of drinking of drinking in bars. That was getting depressing. She was sad enough as it was with the recent break up. However, she was determined to get over it and start over. Well, pick up where she left off more like it, since Orange County was probably the only place that would accept a zombie.
Instead of heading to a bar she went to a brunch place on the beach, with outdoor seating of course. A change of scenery would be good. It had been ages since she had been to a beach. She ordered herself a bloody mary, eyes fixed on the waves crashing onto the shore. Yeah, this was exactly what she needed.
It was a nice day and so Clara had decided to take a towel, book and head to the beach. There was something about the ocean here that was nicer than the beach in Blackpool. Not that she had any aims of going into the water. But that was beside the point. So she was going to be properly Californian (in theory) and read at the beach.
Well. That was the plan. As she got to her destination, Clara had slipped out of her shoes to walk in the sand when she noticed a familiar figure at an outdoor seating for a brunch place (Clara hadn’t been there before so she wasn’t sure the name). Well, time for a little detour.
“Hey. I haven’t seen you around lately. How are you doing?”
Liv looked up at the familiar voice. It was Clara. A smile appeared on Liv’s face. “Hey!” she greeted before taking a nice long sip of her drink (it had extra peppers of course and Liv had added some hot sauce). “I know it’s been a long time. I was in London for a bit.” Something Clara would probably appreciate given where she was from.
“Oh. I've been good,” she added casually another sip of her drink. “You know, classic story of girl meets boy, girl follows boy half way across the world, boy dumps girl.” She was perhaps a bit to casual and chipper in her explanation, but that was mostly the brain talking. “What’s new with you? Have a seat,” she added nodding at the empty one across the table.
“Oh?” Clara was about to ask how that was but there was no need to because suddenly Liv was discussing the classic story and it was clear she was probably not as okay as she was appearing. Which was understandable all things considered. Following someone halfway across the world only to be dumped? Not a good a feeling. “Ouch, I’m sorry.”
Taking a seat, Clara placed her things to the side then shrugged.
“Nothing too exciting.” Though now she felt awkward that there was a something happening with her and Bucky. Nothing defined yet, but it developing which was something she hadn’t anticipated but was finally willing to let herself see where it might go. “Randomly run a diner, do the PI thing, flirt with a guy, deal with typical Orange County weirdness.”
“Thanks,” Liv took another sip of her drink. She sharing that news. She hadn’t said it for pity, that was not who Liv was. It was just best to get it out there so people didn’t ask questions later.
Liv was not the type that couldn’t accept other people’s happiness just because she was a bit down in the dumps. Well she usually wasn’t, it depended on her last meal. This guy may have been an alcoholic, but at least he wasn’t a downer. Some drunks were just so depressing.
“Tell me more about this guy,” she gave a genuine smile. “And the PI stuff sounds interesting.” Liv worked a lot of crimes herself being a ME and of course having visions. But hers were all murders. She’d definitely like to hear about other crimes.
It was better to just get it out there, Clara could understand that. In theory, she was the one who literally moved halfway across the world to avoid thinking about her dead boyfriend. So maybe not the best person to ask about proper coping mechanisms.
“The PI stuff is pretty interesting. Helped take down a stalker earlier in the month, some creep who was writing a book on the woman he was stalking, all sorts of personal details.” But right, talking about Bucky. She couldn’t help but smile, “Well, he’s former military because I apparently have a type when it comes to blokes. Very easy going but can keep up with me when talking about literature or history. He wandered into my diner and we got to talking, then he showed up on the network so he’s aware of all of that.” Because there were some things that just would not make sense for a non-Dreamer.
That man definitely sounded like a creep. The poor woman. “That’s awesome.” The taking him down part. Not the stalking and book writing part. “By the time they get to me it’s too late to save them.” She did have a respect for PIs. Sure she knew a lot of it was probably cheating spouses. But they also caught the criminals that weren’t quite big enough for the police to spend too much time on. Like stalkers.
“Sounds like a great match.” At least from what Clara had described. Liv could tell that she really liked the guy too. “Ah, yes. The network. I’m not sure what it would be like to date a non dreamer.” There was something special that came with sharing that aspect. Not to mention that it was impossible for Liv to be physical with humans. Hell with most people on the network for that matter.
“Yeah, I like being able to help people like that. I mean, teaching was great but I really like being able to stop things like that before they get to a more permanent end.” It was something she had always enjoyed about her dreams. Yes, there was the space and time travel that was absolutely brilliant, but being able to help people? Especially once she stopped trying to grasp onto her ‘Earth’ life as well?
“I like to think so. It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve really put myself out there in that way.” Which was scary in some ways, the good kind of scary but still. After years of guarding her heart and not wanting to get hurt, it was still strange sometimes to think that she wasn’t actively pushing against it and closing possibilities before they began, “But right? Some things are way too hard to explain otherwise.”
“I get that.” Which was true. “I originally wanted to be a surgeon. Help save lives.” But then she had almost killed someone. Bringing the dead to justice was the best she could do now. And it was good for her diet.
“It’s worth it.” Putting yourself out of your comfort zone that was. Liv certainly had some experience with that. In her past relationship, yes, but that was also just her life now. She was constantly doing things she wouldn’t normally do.
Clara nodded some, “There is something about being able to help save lives. But it’s also important that the dead get their stories told as well.” Because that was how history was formed and how people could learn. Yes it a more abstract sort of way, however the general principle still remained.
“So I’ve been told.” She was just so used to desperately needing to control everything that letting herself go beyond her comfort zone, opening herself up again was still a new thing. But she was getting better with it and she didn’t regret the decision in the slightest.
“Exactly,” Liv agreed with another sip of her Bloody Mary. “Not everyone can be saved.” And she could no longer be a surgeon so it worked out.
“And now you know for yourself.” Liv beamed happy for her friend. She finished off her drink and waved the waiter down to order another. “Do you want anything?”
Which was the important thing, things finding a way to work out even if they weren’t the plan that you had set out on. True Clara could remain a teacher despite her frozen in time thing, but if she couldn’t die, she could put herself to better use helping others and to take risks others might be unable to. “A sad fact, but one that does need to be acknowledged.”
It had taken a lot of time to accept it, but after everything Clara was there.
“I do.” Smiling, Clara paused then shrugged, “Sure why not.” It wasn’t like she could get drunk or anything, “I’ll get a mimosa.”