asgardeventide | {14th Gunshot; Text}

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{14th Gunshot; Text}

Lee's stuff is gone. I can't find him. I just figured I should let people know in case they had any plans with him.

[It's not that she wants pity. She just wants to let people know so they are aware in case they had any arrangements with him. Though of course Clementine isn't taking this well. Knowing what he has to go home to. It hurts. More than when Jack or any of the others she has known went home. Because he was the one familiar thing in all of this. Still, all she can do is keep going. Which is what she tells herself as she stands at the doorway of what was supposed to be his room. It doesn't help the guilt and pain of losing him once again, doesn't lessen it even as she knows she was lucky to get any time at all with him after what went down back home.]

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I'm sorry, kid.

It's okay. I've managed without him before. I can do it again. Guess I'm lucky to have got this time with him at all.

Yeah. I get that. Still if you wanna come see the dog or something...

[ how do you console kids ugh ]

It's been a bit since I saw Jackson. I mean, I'm not totally alone and Midnight doesn't seem to mind hugs for now but that's not a bad idea.

[Pet Jackson, get to catch up with Ellie and Joel and Riley.]

I might.

Oh Clementine, I'm so sorry. Do you want me to come over or something? Do you have the Eighth Doctor there with you?

I'll be okay. Won't say no to company though. Eight is around, yeah.

I can be over very soon! Ah... have you... been to the bank to collect his things?

Not yet. I'm not sure he had a lot, but I can go check tomorrow or something. I'll see you when you head over.

Do you need help with that? I know it can be very difficult...

[Alice began heading to Clementine, who she assumed was in her room as Clementine didn't define anything else.]

Have you gone? I don't remember if I've ever had to do this. Lee is the main one I knew from home and other times I've had things left for me others have given them to me so I haven't had to go ask before. But you know where it is?

[After a bit, the empty room only ends up depressing her more so she does shift over to her own bedroom, which is where Alice would find her once she arrives.]

I've had to go there many times.... Honestly, it never gets easier to go, but it's easier with company. I don't mind going with you for that.

Edited 2014-12-01 06:06 (UTC)

A lot of people have left. Especially when we've been here so long. You longer than me even. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate it. Thanks Alice.

There are very few people who have been here longer than me, anymore. The Doctor is one of those few. And I don't mind. I'm almost there. Should I put on some tea?

Yeah. I know.

I can meet you in the kitchen and put the jug on if you want. Tea, right?

Goodness, you don't actually mean a jug do you? That's not how proper tea is to be made, Clementine.

Ril's the one that usually does this stuff. Not me. Should I wait for you then?

Good heavens yes! Especially if you really did intend to put it in a jug!

I'll wait then.

[Alice hurries over to the kitchen, she knows it as well as she knows her own.]

Clementine? Clementine are you here? [She didn't think Clementine would have left without telling her anything, by maybe the Eighth Doctor was talking to her instead?]

[It doesn't take long for her to hear and rush in from her room at least. She still probably looks a little miserable, telltale puffy red eyes from crying even as she gives a wave to her friend. A weak attempt at a smile at seeing Alice, grateful for the company and reassurance all the same.]

Hey. Sorry with the tea. I just--usually it's the Doctor or Ril that fixes the hot drinks.

[That and. You know. She isn't exactly in the best state right now.]

But if you tell me what to do I can make you some.

Would you like to learn? That way you can make it if no one else is home. [She offered as she took Clementine by the hand and led her to the stove, pulling down a kettle.]

You don't have to learn right now. [She offered gently.]

I can make it. I'm very good at making tea.

I guess I could. I don't think they'd get mad at me with the hot drinks so much.

[Because boiling water is not the safest, but if Clementine is helping and she is perfectly capable there should be no issue. She's faced far worse after all.]

Okay. I can give you a hand with the hot water though.

[Their houses are similar enough that she figures Alice for the most part knows where everything is, but she helps and gets anything she might need that is out of the younger girl's reach. Watching as Alice offers to prepare it.]

Mad at you for what? [Alice was so used to making tea without permission that it doesn't occur to her that there was an issue on the matter of a hot stove. She picked out a favorite tea and started to get things ready, turning everything on and filling up the kettle. She finally realized, however, what Clementine might be referring to.]

Goodness, you're older than I am and you handle a weapon. [Though she still had her own sword back at the house, and there was always the weapon of her mind and the use of her fingers.] I should hardly think you can be scolded for making such a lovely thing as tea. [Because tea was the ultimate good in all worlds.]

Well, it needs to boil and that should take at least a few minutes.

Well, I am still a kid. Not that I don't make snacks myself and all but they are just usually always around to make any hot drinks or meals for me.

[But she gives a nod when Alice says it would take a while, making sure to keep an eye on it as Alice filled it, since it could get heavy depending how full it might be, especially for one so much smaller.]

I don't mind waiting. I figured it would need to boil. Just maybe let me pour it once it's ready? I wouldn't want any spilling and hurting you, Alice.

You're allowed to handle a weapon, I highly doubt there's much to be said about hot water. [Alice said rather plainly considering how much Clementine had insisted Alice learn a gun. How, exactly, hot water worse than a bullet, Alice didn't know. She wondered if she should point out how Clementine could be so silly about one thing, and not apply it to another thing.

But then she supposed that was most people, now wasn't it?]

Spilling and- [She giggled.] Goodness, you say the funniest things sometimes, Clementine.

I don't know. Adults can be weird about some things, I guess. I've never really asked or needed to, whether they were fine with me making hot drinks. They've never told me not to, just they're always around to if I want one.

[But then, Clementine is older than Alice so she's not sure if there might be such rules at her own place. Though she seems comfortable enough with making tea so perhaps they don't mind. Clementine's parents didn't allow her to do that back home, but a lot of things were different back then. She simply waits and lets Alice get everything ready before checking and pouring the boiling water into two cups.]

I'm sorry. I'll look for him just in case.

His things are gone though. That usually means they went back home, right? I mean, not that he had a lot, but still, his room is pretty empty now.

Yeah, it does. I just feel like I should do something.

Not that I don't appreciate the offer. I do. I'm just pretty sure this is what happens when someone goes home. But you'll let me know if you find him? I haven't, yet.

I will. I hope we can find him.

( It's a large hope with a lot of doubt that it will happen, but hope because it's better than going back to Walkers )

I hope so too. Thanks for offering, Lydia. It's just, at least here he has some chance of being alive. Better than how things turned out back home. And he was the only other one I knew from home around here.

He could still come back. ( And hopefully before anything bad happens ) Did your things disappear when you went home? Before you came back?

Maybe. I'm not sure if he will or not but at least I got to see him at all. I didn't expect to after what happened back home.

I'm not sure if that's different? I mean, I don't think my stuff was gone but I guess I wouldn't know. I could ask the Doctor? He'd probably know. I think what happened with me was a bit different than properly leaving Asgard.

[Eight settles behind her and rests his hands on her shoulders.]

I'm sorry, Clementine. I'd say I know how it feels, but it isn't exactly the same, is it? What he's gone back to...

[At least Charley was as safe as she'd ever allow herself to be back home. That world both Lee and Clem come from hasn't been "safe" in a long time.]

He's....if he has gone back home, that means he has gone back to be shot. To me shooting him.

[She sniffs, trying and failing to entirely stifle the tears that threaten as she leans against him a bit when he puts a hand to her shoulder. Almost instinctively leaning in and half hugging him there in the doorway. Lee was the one familiar thing here in Asgard and she was so grateful for it, even through the guilt. And now he's gone again.]

[He closes his eyes, sensing her trying not to cry and feeling his heart break for her. The Doctor never could handle the sound of a crying child. And this, knowing just how horrible the situation is, just makes it worse.

After a moment to compose himself, he turns her to face him and gets down on a knee to be at her level, wrapping his arms around her.]

You know you did what you had to do. It was either that, or leaving him to become a walker.

I know. I know, but still.....sending him back to that...

[It's just cruel. Not that she can do anything about it now. Clementine knows appealing to the gods to bring him back wouldn't necessarily work, no matter how guilty, upset or angry this might make her. She's hardly the only one to have had someone sent back home. But that doesn't make it any easier, or hurt any less as she half collapses into the hug and lets the tears fall. It's not so often she cries anymore, but she can't help it now. Everyone has their breaking point and even she can only get through so much before reaching it.]

It's Lee, Doctor.

[His heart shatters a bit when Clem lets the tears fall freely, and he holds her close, wishing for all the world that he could give her a perfectly happy life. Sadly, that isn't in the cards when you're in the middle of a war on a world that can't seem to hold onto people for long.]

I know, my dear. I know it hurts.

[Clem doesn't have to be strong with her. He can't bring Lee back for her, but he can try to be a comforting presence that makes her feel safe enough to cry it out.]

[Her fingers clutch at the back of his shirt, her shoulders shaking as she cries. It takes a lot to break her like this, but losing Lee, the one properly familiar face, the one she never imagined getting the chance to see again at all, that would do it.]

It....was hard enough to...to lose him the first time.

[Not that she isn't grateful for the second chance. But in a way this is almost more painful. Part of her wishes he was never here if it was only to be taken away like this, having him around and comforted by that once more. To again be separated by something out of her control.]

[His eyes squeeze shut and he simply keeps a tight hold of her, resting his cheek against her head.]

And just when you think he's alive and well and with you again, it all gets ripped away from you.

I know there are people who would say that at least you had that extra time, but from personal experience, it just hurts more. Like re-opening a wound that had just begun to form a scar.

I...I'm glad I got to see him again at all. But it still hurts. I thought I'd come to accept it, him being back and then this. If we were given a choice to stay...I'd have wanted to, with Lee.

[That's what hurts the most. The possibility of a proper second chance that was cut short before being potentially realized. Eight of all people could understand that, after everything with Charley.]

[He understands all too well. It's actually worse than never having seen them again at all. At least, for those left behind.]

I understand that completely. I wouldn't mind staying here and avoiding what I have coming as well, and if I could have the people I love here and spared what's coming as well, I would.

I'm sorry I don't have any comforting words for you. Sometimes...there just is no way to make it better.

No. Sometimes there isn't.

[Which hurts to admit, but she knows it is true. Knows he is right there. She's known it perhaps earlier than she should have, still being so young and realistic sometimes to a fault after everything she has been through. Even if part of her wants reassurance in some small way, she's also appreciative that he's not coddling her the way most adults would. He never has. Has always been honest with her.]

I'm so sorry, Clementine. Am I there?

[ He means Eight. ]

Eight? Yes. He's here. So it's okay, I'm not alone. I know I should be glad I got this time with him at all but it still hurts. I just thought, in case he had any plans with anyone here I should let everyone know.

No matter how much extra time you get, you'll always wonder why you didn't get more. It seems like you should have gotten more. Always does.

I thought if he couldn't go back home, that I might stay here with him after.

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{14th Gunshot; Text}

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