Clara Oswald is going the long way round (alwaysbeenthere) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2020-02-01 10:46:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, clara oswald, martha jones |
Who: Martha and Clara Oswin Oswald
What: Run ins and first ‘meetings’
When: 1 February 2020
Where: Grocery store
Warnings: Should be low
Status: Log | Complete
Wherever this was? Oswin liked it. Plenty of people, no daleks, and she didn’t have to worry about running out of ingredients for souffles. Poor Scruffy, he was mostly going along with things in stride but she could tell that there was more to it beneath the surface. She might flirt and see what happened, but it was clear to her that he was concerned. But there was nothing to be concerned about and so she went about her day.
There were the blank spots of course, when she couldn’t remember what she had done. And there was that strange thing with the mirror but perhaps it was just something with the area. She didn’t know and she didn’t want to put too much thought into it. So she didn’t. There was the metal dog that was trying to get information or her attention but she ignored it. She needed to get to the store, and with Scruffy doing his thing, Oswin figured there was no time like the present.
So with her hair up, black pants and red top, it was off to the store and in search of what she needed to finally perfect the souffle.
Martha hadn’t heard from Clara or Bucky since the latter had reached out to Clara’s friends about her acting strangely so she had assumed that she’d either been wrong about the echoes or she’d been wrong. After all, just because something strange was going on didn’t mean that it had to do with the dreams. It could have been just a normal strange thing.
So Martha had gone about her business, her work at the clinic, making a mental note to check in with Clara soon to see how things had worked out. However, it seemed that she’d get to check in with her friend sooner rather than later when she just so happened to spot Clara at the grocery store as she walked past an aisle, “Clara!” She turned her cart around and headed back towards the aisle she’d seen her friend in, “Fancy meeting you here.”
No, Martha hadn’t been wrong, but it wasn’t like Oswin was the type to just stay in one place. Hardly. Especially when she needed to get things. She did feel bad for Muscles (his name changed depending on the day basically) as well as the metal dog and the non-metal one, they all seemed...confused but they went with it.
At first she didn’t react. After all, Clara wasn’t her name. But then the voice was coming towards her and there was that initial reminder that Scruffy/Muscles/Jane seemed to think that was her name as well. So she just looked up and smiled.
“Hello, do I know you?” Might as well get straight to the point. While appreciating the view. What, she was only human after all.
Martha had been around OC weirdness for so long now that for a split second she was under the impression that she’d run into someone who looked like Clara, because oddly enough, that was a thing that happened these days, but as the shock of the question subsided she realized that no, this wasn’t someone who just looked like Clara, it was Clara and the problem Bucky had posted about had not gone away, “Yeah, actually you do. Well, you usually do.” Martha was sure that this whole thing would be much easier to figure out if The Doctor were around. “I’m Martha.” Perhaps that would jog her memory somehow.
Oh the problem definitely had not gone away. The stronger echoes came out more, and at least they retained the memories of when they were ‘awake’ as it were, but anything before that? Well, that information was lost or hazy depending on the day.
“You sure, because my name’s not Clara. But...Scruffy said something similar so…” Because why stick with actual names? Psh. Though she nodded some, “Nice name, Martha. I’m Oswin.”
“Scruffy?” Martha frowned slightly before realizing who Clara must have meant, “Oh, Bucky. That makes sense,” She made a mental note to text him after this to let him know she’d seen Clara because chances were he was still worried about what was going on with her, “Anyway, it’s nice to meet you, Oswin. What’re you shopping for today?” She wondered if she should try to keep Clara occupied so she could keep an eye on her or not.
Oswin just shrugged at the mention of Bucky. Oh he was quite fun but well, to her he was Scruffy. Or Muscles. Or Jane. Regular names were so boring. Though she did have to admit at least that Bucky wasn’t what one would consider a normal name. Either way, nothing to worry about there.
“Oh just some basics. Milk, butter, eg---ex...ex….” shaking her head as she stumbled over the word, it finally formed, “Eggs.”
That was annoying. But she also wasn’t ready yet to turn away from people. So long alone in the Dalek Asylum? People were good. Even if she tripped on words that seemed to almost bring forth a memory she didn’t want and that she thus quickly buried beneath layers of denial and self protection.
Considering Martha didn’t know the full extent of Oswin’s story, she didn’t catch Clara’s stutter when she said the word eggs so she didn’t think much of it, “Making another souffle? Or are you trying something new?” She also didn’t know what the deal was with the whole souffle thing either, but she figured now was a good time to ask since it would keep her occupied.
“The other ones were just too perfect to eat.” Meaning they had deflated but that was completely irrelevant in the conversation. Best to just say they were too perfect to live as Oswin didn’t know about Scruffy’s post. “Though I suppose there’s always room for other things as well.”
That made Martha wonder what exactly they were doing with the souffles. She assumed it was probably Bucky who was cleaning them up since Clara appeared to just want to admire them, “You could always try a cake.” Martha couldn’t think of anything more complex than that at the moment.
Oh, Oswin dealt with the souffles, but it wasn’t like she was just going to admit to the deflated souffles. No, best to just say they were too beautiful to live and leave it at that. Because why focus on the negatives or the things she was blocking out? Exactly.
“Hmm, that is a possibility….”
“A layer cake maybe. I see recipes on Pinterest all the time for multi layer cakes.” Pinterest was one thing she had never really envisioned herself talking about with Clara. Usually with Clara they talked about their dreams and adventures with The Doctor or went on trips in the TARDIS and went out for drinks; talking about baking and Pinterest just seemed strange now. I was also strange, the things that seemed like normal conversation these days.
Some things were just too difficult to discuss for both Clara and Oswin. And as Oswin had perfected the art of lying to herself and creating a dream to escape from the truth (until Chinboy had to shatter the illusion but that wasn’t an issue and she had yet to see him so clearly she’d been rescued and that was that, thank you very much), baking was just an easier topic at hand.
In theory.
“I will have to look into this Pinterest you speak of.”
It wasn’t like it was something from her own time, but Oswin had long since accepted that this wasn’t her time and she was in fact in the past.
If Martha hadn’t been sure that this wasn’t exactly Clara, the fact that she didn’t know what Pinterest was would have sealed the deal. “I think you’ll like Pinterest. Just google it.” As she said it, she realized that that might also confuse Clara, “Ask Bucky about it. I’m sure he can help you.” Martha hoped that whatever was happening with Clara would pass soon.
Google sounded vaguely familiar but she could always ask Scruffy about it later. Or Martha could say he’d help her with it and she gave a small nod.
“I’ll make sure to do that.”
Martha nodded, “Well, I should let you go so you can get on that.” As much as she wanted to keep Clara occupied for as long as possible, she knew it really wasn’t plausible. She’d just have to let Bucky know that she’d run into Clara in case he didn’t know where she’d gone, “Hope whatever you make next comes out perfect.”
Even as Oswin was more than happy to talk to people, it was true that there was only so long the ruse could go before she grew suspicious. So instead she just gave a small nod and smile.
“Thank you! Have a nice day!” And with a small wave, she went back to what she’d been doing.