( at his apprent CROSSNESS; she knows she should be careful ; but her adrenaline addiction drives her to push a few of his very interesting mind buttons instead ) ❝ oh, look at you. did someone develop a caring software while i was away? ❞
❝ you know, perhaps you should go away again. i’ve started to learn how to cope. ❞
❝Well I’m quite offended! I say it’s a dreadful pleasure to meet you ; and you say that. — Well versed, I do enjoy that. Though it’s a little closer to I am time and space, in a sense? Least it’s what my Time Lord says. T A R D I S . Type 45. At your service. Not literally, of course, my Master would be horribly upset with me. Does that satisfy your curiosity, Mister Clever, or are you going to ask me questions until we both break down? Rassilon’s sake, I’ve got a million for you. — How you managed to beat The horrid Doctor, for one. I’m so terribly impressed, you know.❞
❝ a living tardis, how fascinating. oh, and not just any tardis either, the master’s tardis. i now just worry that the two of you will be jealous at my victory. ask me all of the questions you want to, i don’t mind being bombarded. ❞
at least she’s sparked curiosity enough for him for him to be comfortable here. he watches her closely, amazed that a sentient being would decide to place themselves in a human body of all things - of course that is what he used to do. he wets his lips before going to answer her last question, though it’s more her begging the story from him with words of adoration.
❝ i managed to beat him because he defeated me before with luck. this time i knew his weakness and hit at it until he broke and gave up. ❞
i suppose I’m the only one who knows how I feel about you right now.—- how funny you are. so funny & pretty & the truth is,—— i’m starting to like you in a way that is more than just—————
SNAP. reality in the shape of cold hands around her neck. fear crawling upon her; paralyzing her. & she finally reckons that the time for games is over. although the hope that the doctor is still somewhere; in battle ; awareness that clever is WINNING [ or has the advatage; at least ] leaves her properly frightened ; gasping for air )
❝ ——— suppose not. okay. you’ve got a more permanent hold of the conch then. what will you do with it? ❞
the hold he has around her throat goes limp and his hand shrinks to his side, but a grimace remains on his features and he looks her over, just barely tipping his chin down so he can look at her with the coldest gaze he ever has. his fingers contrast his facial expression and they dance over her cheek to brush some of her hair back and then his hand rests on her face. the movement is made as soft and loving, and he’s pressing close to her, but that gaze - he’s sure to keep it calculative and cruel and every thing he hopes the girl HATES.
❝ ah, i plan to play with the conch for a bit. perhaps even go out and make a few pets while i have it in my hands. then i’ll also have a very particular pretty little weapon against the doctor, and what a pity it will be because all of his friends will be used against him. ❞
and at that his gaze turns hungry and his fingers trace just from her eyebrow down the side of her face then he places one finger just under her chin.
❝ if only i could put some metal on your face too, unfortunately he’d be able to see that and what kind of secret weapon would you be then? ❞
he’s trying to remain careful and stoic, but as soon as she says he’s scaring her everything slips away. his mask cracks and he locks with hers. his hearts tighten.
❝ i never meant to, and you know that. now stop being stupid and come stand by me, would you? you can even do the lever thing for me. ❞
if the girl were able to take over again, now would have been her chance. she can feel as her heart pangs with sorrow, but otherwise she knows the girl has given up. slowly, she turns her back from him and begins to walk away toward the doors of the TARDIS. her hand goes to the door and lays there in a flimsy state. she puts in the effort of making the hand, shaking with tremours, clench into a fist. a choked sob then leaves her lips.
❝ goodbye, my doctor. i will always remember you. ❞
( & her BRAVEHEART facade breakts into a blank expression of pure panic. not because of his movements; [ intimidating as they are ] but because of his words ; undeniably true. but she clings to the idea that he hasn’t given up ; —-he must be simply struggling ) ❝ no he hasn’t. you’ve just got the conch, so you can talk. but he’ll fight you for it. you just want to scare me ❞
there in her statement he finds a challenge. oh yes, he could see her still hanging to that little shred of hope that her doctor was still with her. and he knows exactly how to prove that the doctor is never coming back. he closes the space between them with heavy footfalls. his hand wraps around her wrist like a boa constrictor. a smile curves at his lips and he forcefully pulls her to his torso.
❝ do you think he would dare let me touch you like this if he were still around? ❞
his grip tightens before he lets go over her wrist to take her throat instead.
❝ because frankly i think he’d have a problem with my hand around his clara’s throat. ❞
he’s been disturbed. his eyes fall onto the disruption with anger, pupils dilate in and out and he slowly stands, his jaw clenched at the sight of a female human. he makes no point to tell her to leave, if she hasn’t gotten the message already he’s not sure what he can do to help fix her head.
❝Ohh — you truly are clever! All the bad parts put together ; think I’ve changed my mind, I quite like you. You’re the honest bits then, is that what’s you’re saying? The dreadfully honest bits he never let show? Well in that case I’m horribly pleased to meet you Mister Clever. I’m Elian — and yes, I’m a machine. Stolea body, same as you. Though not as elegantly as a Cyber Planner.❞
❝yes, the honest bits, that’s what we’ll call them. though i come complete without the self loathing and the love for all humankind. in fact i’d rather use all of t he boring little humans and convert them into spare parts, but things like that do take a long time. i’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you too if i didn’t know any better. you know about cyber planners, and you know the doctor, so i’m supposing that you, elian, are certainly well versed in time and space. but you’re not a time lord, so tell me what are you? ❞
”Oh, so is hatred a weakness, now, Mr Clever? Because quite frankly, while trying to save him it went a little wrong on my end and that is not fair on me.”
❝ you don’t know how to properly hate, so yes, it becomes a weakness for you. i’m just going to sit here and watch you fall apart. ❞
