Who wants to go on a road trip } OTA

[beautifullies]

Who: Claire Fraser + you
Where: Various places indicated in prompts!
When: 3-5-2019
Rating: PGish? Will change if it goes higher for some reason
Summary: Claire has lived through a few more years. She's 53 now.
The Story:

INITIAL RE-ARRIVAL

[ Returning to Wonderland this time has slightly improved over the last return trip: she hasn't drowned, which is nice. That doesn't stop the sinking feeling in her gut. The only plus side, she realizes as she looks down at the box in her arms, is that she was carrying her medical kit. In the time she's been gone so much has happened, as she thinks of Brianna and Jamie (hopefully) waiting for her inside, Claire raises her head to the sky, trying to understand how to know what to tell them both. Christ, she can't tell Brianna. But she has to tell Jamie.

There's hope, as she trudges from the garden to the mansion, that she'll come up with something between here and her room. ]

CLINIC

[ Claire, bathed for the first time in, well, too long, finally makes her way to the clinic. She's seen both Jamie and Brianna and she needs to not only take a moment for herself to breathe, but she'd like to be sure everything is still in order at the clinic. She's lived a few years and it's hard to believe only a week has passed in Wonderland. It leaves her feeling off, needing to check to be sure things truly are as she left them.

Turning on the overhead lights, she blinks a bit; it always takes time to re-adjust to how bright the lighting is in the future. She begins to busily go through cabinets, needing to remind herself of what's there because it's jumbling with three years worth of other things. ]

5th floor bar

[ It isn't often that she goes to a bar to have a drink. But she finds herself bypassing the stop on the fourth floor and going up one more flight. She sits in a booth facing the door, nursing a glass of whiskey. She couldn't keep anything from Jamie. He knows everything in her own time now, and she wouldn't keep it from him here. But Bree.

Christ, she'd avoided everything other than a confirmation that yes, she'd made it to North Carolina and warned them. She can't stomach saying anything more right now, though she worries Wonderland will send her home and then Bree will return with knowledge of it herself, upset that her mother never said anything.

God, she needs at least two more drinks before going back to the room. ]

Goddamned Wonderland.

[ She mutters it under her breath. ]

Comments

Closed to Jamie

[beautifullies]

[ When she sees Jamie in the hallway before she can even get to their room, everything in Claire simply sags in relief. He's here. He's still here. Putting down her medical box, she calls out to him, already walking quickly to close the distance between them.

Wrapping her arms around him tightly as soon as she can, her face buries itself against his neck to breathe him in. She hasn't bathed in months, save for washing in a river, she must look horrible, but she doesn't care. He's still in Wonderland and she pulls back to kiss him deeply before pressing her forehead to his. ]

Is Bree still here?

[1743]

Sassenach.

[ The word is whispered so faintly on the air, as though by saying it too loudly, he might shatter this reality. He's lost her too many times already in his life, his heart can't bear it if this is simply an illusion, another cruel torture designed by this horrid place. She's only been gone a week, it's true, but her absence for just the span of a single breath feels like a lifetime for Jamie.

When their arms are around each other at last - Jamie's grip on her is so tight he must surely be pulling the air from her lungs - he nearly lifts her off the ground. She positively reeks, but he doesn't care about that at all. His own heart has returned to his chest now, and as she asks the question, he's nuzzling her cheek, needing to touch her skin, to feel her. ]

Aye, she's here, Sassenach.

[ Finally, after a moment, he does need to pull back, to see her, to be certain she's not injured. His eyes rake over her body, noting how dirty she looks, how weary. Stroking her soiled cheeks with his thumbs, he kisses her forehead tenderly. ]

Mo graidh. Thank the Almighty ye've returned. What's happened to ye, Claire?

[beautifullies]

[ Her family is still here, and God, that's all that matters for a moment. She just hugs him again and buries her face against his neck for a few seconds. ]

I know it may not seem that way, but I'm fine. You are too.

[ She wets her lips, looking up at him. ]

And Bree. She made it, Jamie, she made it to us.

Closed to Bree

[beautifullies]

[ Deciding for not to not tell Brianna anything is difficult. She knows it's the right choice; what could her daughter do about anything here when she'll just forget? But still, after keeping such large secrets from Bree before it feels a bit like a betrayal.

Still, she needs to see her daughter, and after being with Jamie all day, she finally seeks her out, knocking on her door. For Claire, it's been nearly eight months since she's seen her daughter last. ]

Bree?

[givingback]

[ She's known her mother is back but she also knows she was in a closed bedroom with Jamie and Bree didn't want to interrupt that. So, as soon as her mother knocks, Bree throws open the door and wraps her arms around her. ]

Mama, you're back. Are you okay? is everything okay?

[beautifullies]

[ No, no everything isn't okay, and she holds onto Brianna so tightly, closing her eyes. ]

Oh, my baby. It is now. Everything's alright now.

[ Claire swallows back tears; if they aren't telling Brianna anything, then she needs to get it together. ]

Especially because we're together, all of us. You made it, Bree.

[ And that's all Claire will say as she pulls back, smiling softly as she cradles her daughter's face. ]

You changed, so much in three years. Oh, Bree.

[ And with that, Claire's hugging her again. ]

Bar!

[captain_america]

[ Steve had noticed Claire’s absence, he usually tries to check in with her if not daily then every other day. And her lack of response to messages and her absence at the clinic was hard to miss. So when she shows up in the bar it’s both a relief and a surprise. He gives her a little time to herself before coming over with another glass and the bottle of whiskey. ]

Welcome back.

[beautifullies]

[ Looking up at him, Claire sighs in relief. ]

God, I'm glad you're still here. I know I was only gone for a week but who knows what this place might pull off in that amount of time.

[ She's fine other than a bit more tan, longer hair, grayer, a little thinner. But she's not hurt, hasn't been injured. ]

I didn't realize you'd found a home here.

[captain_america]

[ He checks her over for injuries and when he's satisfied she's physically fine he slides into the booth across from her. ]

Still here, still not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing though.

[ Its up for debate. ]

Yeah, I've been helping Natasha out here, gives me something to do at least.

How are you?

Clinic

[bibliocorn]

[It's very rare that Sunburst notices someone missing in Wonderland. It's never a conscious move out of malice, far from it. He just gets distracted by the library- when one has every book ever to read, one forgets the outside world exists.

But Claire is someone Sunburst has noticed the absence of. He's checked in on the clinic every day, his worry increasing with every day she's not there. He knows the standard amount of time someone is away for- but it doesn't make the waiting any easier. Claire comes from a complicated world- one where just about anything could have happened to her. He's been concerned.

He brightens when, passing the clinic for the day, he finds her there. He walks in, carefully- lest something awful has happened to her.]

Hey. Welcome back.

[beautifullies]

[ Claire turns at the sound of his voice; she's a little tanner, her hair is longer and has more gray, but she smiles widely to see him, though she remembers the last time they saw one another, in her guilty loop. She'd left almost directly after the event ended and never had a chance to touch base with anyone who saw her.

She certainly has something else for Wonderland to chew on now, guilt-wise. ]

Thank you. It's...well, solely for the company, it's good to be back. And I'm glad you're one more familiar face to come back to.

[bibliocorn]

[That's always the risk of going home and coming back- returning with more stuff for Wonderland to mess with. It makes him almost glad he hasn't gone back since he arrived here. ]

Well, I'm glad to offer that much. [Genuinely, he is. He adjusts his glasses with a forehoof.] I hope that it was a relatively safe visit home?

clinic

[tinyfoods]

[Entrapta rarely leaves her workroom in the basement, but today she's decided it's time to explore a bit more of Wonderland. Or at least the first floor of the Mansion.

Which is how she came upon the clinic. She'd been using her hair to walk along, her body hanging between her massive pigtails, but she sets her own feet down on the floor when she enters. She's much shorter in person than she probably seemed over video.

Her hair floats around her as she readies herself to go through everything she can lay it on, but she spots Claire before she gets a chance to start making a mess.]

Grilled cheese lady!

[A beat. She coils her hair up and props her elbow on it, resting her cheek on her hand.]

You look different.

[beautifullies]

[ She's never been referred to as such before, and she only knows of one person she's had a lengthy conversation about said food over. ]

Entrapta.

[ Said with a soft smile as she looks up, fascinated by her hair for a moment before speaking. ]

Do I? I did leave Wonderland for...well, for nearly three years in my own world.

[tinyfoods]

That must be it!

[She at least has enough tact not to say that Claire looks older (though not that much older, really.]

I didn't notice you were gone.

rearrival

[bloodmagics]

[Their first meeting happened like this, a while ago now. It wasn't the best of meetings and both animals had a very serious talking to. So this time, when the dogs run up to Claire, they stop running a short distance away. Hawke joins them a moment later, catching sight of Claire and breaking into a grin.]

I'd ask if you were out on a morning walk, but it seems like you're on a mission.

[beautifullies]

Oh, thank Christ you're still here.

[ She does smile even if it's an exhausted one, and she kneels to give the dogs some attention before putting down her medical kit and just hugging Hawke. Congratulations on that hug, buddy. ]

I went home for three years. I'm assuming it hasn't been three years since you last saw me?

Clinic

[mourning_ghost]

Mrs. Fraser [It's not very obvious, but Nageki is relieved to see Claire again. Not only had he just started to get to know her, but she is the only person with medical experience currently in the clinic.]

If you are looking for something, I can help you find it.

[beautifullies]

[ When she sees Nageki, she can't help but be relieved as well. He may be learning but having him in the clinic makes her feel as though she isn't truly alone here. ]

When I left, I was gone for three years. I'm trying to remember where everything is and make sure I haven't forgotten anything.

[ Right now, everything feels an odd jumble of what she knows she had at home and what she thinks she remembers having here in Wonderland. ]

bar;

[madehervows]

[Being in a bar is... different after having lived a life where she owned her own. That being said, she appreciates being on the customer side more than she did being behind the bar.

She misses it, sometimes. But she was Regina Mills far longer than she was Roni, and now she's not unknowingly missing something irreplaceable.

Regina notices Claire when she enters, but a slight smile is all she offers at the time. But after she's nursed a glass of wine for a while, she wanders over.]

Mind some company?

[beautifullies]

[ Claire looks up, meeting a familiar gaze and letting out a breath, relaxing. ]

No, not at all. It's actually nice to see someone who looks familiar after being gone for so long. Or, well, for what feels like a long time.

what if i want the roadtrip promised in the subject; clinic;

[hairdont]

[Bear had been particularly restless today, as if he knew Something Was Up. Even going as far as trying to follow him to the clinic, so Josuke got to spend a while corralling a bear before he could even start heading downstairs.

When he finally strolls into the clinic, he's grumbling.]

Bear wanted to follow me here to--[Wait. Is that..] Claire?! You're back!

i would go on a roadtrip w/ u

[beautifullies]

[ Claire turns to face Josuke and then smiles broadly. ]

I am back. And Bear has incredible intuition if he wanted to follow you here.

[ She moves to Josuke to give him a hug, careful of the hair. ]

the bar

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Cheers to that.

[Normally, he's over in the slightly fancier establishment still being kept by Chloe, but a guy feels the need to slum it now and then and it just so happens that tonight, Claire is here. Claire, who has been made conspicuous by her absence in the past week or so.

He stands by her table, one hand lightly pressing fingertip into the top, and tips his drink slightly towards her.]

Mind some company?

[beautifullies]

Never.

[ In the past that might not have been true in regards to Crowley, but now it is and that's that. He's welcome. ]

Have you managed to stay out of trouble for the last seven days?