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Who: Clara & the Creature
Where: her room
When: This afternoon
Rating: A for adorable and awesome
Summary: Clara's promised to share her notes about Wonderland, so Adam drops by for a visit.
The Story:

Clara is beyond restless. She's going mad, being stuck laying still for days on end. She knows that it's important she doesn't pull her stitches and that things heal properly, but she's to the point where she just can't take it anymore. So she thinks of ways she can stay entertained without necessarily having to move around all that much, there's no need to annoy the doctors here by needing new stitch work, after all. She thinks of all the people she's visited with recently, and then some of the newer arrivals she's spoken to. And her mind falls back on Adam, and her promise of sharing her notes and records with him. She wonders if he's settled in by now.

Curious, she sends him a message, asking if he's feeling settled enough to pop by for a visit. And then she carefully slides out of bed, making her way across the room she shares with Owen to grab a few books off the desk. One is the first book she acquired from the library here, 10,000 planets to see. Inside are tons of notes written down about events and locations, and people in Wonderland. The other two are notebooks she's taken notes on all her observations inside.

Just in case he decides to show up anytime soon, she moves back into bed, setting the books beside her as she relaxes back. She picks up her copy of Verne's From the Earth to the Moon and enjoys another chapter or two while she waits.

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Adam had been happily flipping through pages of a medical text book when he'd heard his strange device making a noise. The message was perhaps the first request for contact he'd had since visiting with John Watson in the library and yet, it still struck him as an odd thing to receive. It took several moments to make sure it was definitely for him. Then several more to work out how to even do this. It wasn't like he hadn't been in situations before where he'd needed to openly socialise and greet people who may actually see him again afterwards. The closest he'd gotten to a proper conversation that wasn't with Victor was Elizabeth and -- let's just say it had ended rather badly.

But he had no intention to do anything like that again. Never. He wouldn't let Victor continue to blacken his heart.

He knew he had to go, it was the best way to test the waters and besides, it could go well. Stranger things had happened. John hadn't been afraid, he'd even encouraged him to attempt to meet more people. Life would be a lot easier if he was capable of having friends, someone to talk to and make him feel part of the world.

Eventually he settled for using his sheets from his bed to form a sort of cape so he could obscure his face with, venturing out of his room carefully. He'd gone to great lengths not to be seen since he'd arrived, not wanting to frighten some poor unsuspecting person. The haphazardly made blanket-hood covered most of his body, making it hard to actually make anything out. Just how he'd wanted it.

He approached Clara's door and knocked it tentatively, not wanting to simply barge in. He had to keep a distance and give time to adjust. Be slow about it like he had been with John.

The knock at her door had her smiling, and she set her book aside to sit up a little better in bed. Knowing it was most likely her new friend, she didn't hesitate in calling out, "The door's not locked!" It was easier for Adam to let himself in, than have her hobble her way over to the door.

Of course, it was the second the words had left her mouth that she realized she was a horrible host and didn't have tea or anything prepared. There was a canister of water on the bedside table, at least, and a perfectly good closet in the room to grab things out of. So she forced herself to calm down on the matter and pushed herself to sit up even further, all the way in a position that wasn't particularly comfortable but still necessary for talking to a visitor.

Her hand reached over to make sure the books of notes were still right there with her, and she pat at them fondly upon making sure they were. "I've got all my notes I've promised, right here with me." It's called out in a near sing-song, meant to further beckon him inside.

With great care, he pushed the door open as slowly as he could, peering in at the women who sat in her bed. Strange behaviour but perhaps she was ill? Or cold? Sometimes beds were a perfectly rational place to be. He wouldn't impose too long then, it wouldn't be right. With a careful approach, he kept his head down, not quite able to meet her eyes. She was beautiful. Stunning even. She was so -- normal, what a wonderful luxury that must be. He instantly felt like he didn't deserve to be in her presence. He hadn't seen a women so wonderful since Elizabeth.

His body movements were awkward, somewhat like a nervous three year old that couldn't help but convey their feelings through gestures. His hand self consciously moved to pull his hood down lower while the other jerked slightly awkwardly by his side as he moved.

"Thank you for the invitation and the notes. I'm sure you remember who I am and it is a pleasure to meet you in person, madam," He greeted formally, trying to remember what he'd learned from De Lacey on how to treat women. And how to be a gentlemen. Including a somewhat awkward and elaborate bow to complete the whole thing. They just don't make guys like him any more, huh?

He pulled himself upright again, fumbling with his bed sheets come cloak with a frown on his face. How to get the books and not actually get closer... a tricky job indeed.

She was a bit amused by him at first, thinking him to be painfully shy. His movements reminded her of someone though, someone in purple tweed and bowties. The memory of the Doctor was a bit painful, since she missed him so much here, but she shoved all thoughts of him aside and instead focused on the man that was here with her.

Laughing softly, she offered him a bright smile, clearly pleased and charmed by that bow of his. He really was old fashioned, not that she minded in the least. It was refreshing, actually. And despite his issue with keeping his makeshift cloak up and intact, she didn't pay it much of any notice. She had seen all sorts of things in her recent travels, especially on Akhaten. And even here in Wonderland, she had seen and experienced so much. So what little glimpse of his face she caught a peek of, she didn't flinch or blink, she just motioned for him to come in a little closer with a pat to the edge of her bed.

"It's all right. I won't bite, promise." But then again, he probably wanted to know why she couldn't get up to bring the notes over to him, which made her frown as she tried to figure out a way to explain without sounding entirely pathetic.

"I'm not exactly supposed to be up and out of bed, not after the attack. Ended with more stitches and pain medication than I'd like to be stuck with. Suppose it's just good I'm still alive though."

Taking the gesture as an offer, Adam took a seat as far away on the bed as he could, completely out of place. To be fair, he didn't exactly dress to fit in, even under the sheets were some rather out-dated and torn clothes. Not much of his face was clear but a particularly nasty looking scar peeked out visibly by the side of his face, ill-stitched and poorly done. As much as he tried, he couldn't quite hide it all and that just left him more uncomfortable. It was so much easier to be social when you weren't a horrible abomination that regularly induced mobs of angry people.

"I won't bite either. I'm not a bad man, I promise," He just had to affirm that one. Mostly for his own peace of mind. Hands bunched in his cape, he turned his head to show he was listening, struggling to properly see her. The damn hood was a little too big and it just wasn't practical. Oh how he wished to remove it but that was a dream he couldn't recognise. Not in the presence of a lady anyway.

What Clara said next caught his attention and a strange sort of uneasy hit him right in the stomach. Someone injured such a kind and pleasant women? What sort of monster would do that? "Someone hurt you? That isn't very nice. What monster attacks such a beautiful young lady. You should tell me who did it, I'm sure I could help teach them as a lesson about behaving. So few people remember their manners these days, it isn't something that should ever be forgotten."

And people shouldn't be allowed to hurt people like Clara. Though he barely knew her, he never did like seeing anyone hurt. It was -- unpleasant. "Are you going to recover?"

Touched by his concern, she was quick to move to reassure him that she was just fine. "Oh, don't you worry about me. I'll be just fine. Always am, in the end."

Hm.

It seemed she was being the opposite of actually reassuring, so she moved to rise up to sit on her knees, lifting up her blouse far enough that he can see the large gash that's been stitched together, running from the bottom left of her stomach up toward the middle of the right side of her chest. It was going to scar, she was sure of it. Which gave them something in common, she realized. She had caught sight of that scar and stitching on his face, and wanted to make him feel a little more at ease.

"Here," she offered, slowly reaching out to cautiously remove the hood of his cape. She was well aware that she was talking too fast, and moving about equally quickly, but made sure to keep this particular movement slow and steady so as to not startle him. Her hold on her own shirt dropped, but an end remained caught up on a knot in her stitches, leaving a bit of the injury showing.

"You, Adam, you don't need that. Not around me. You're not a bad man, I know. And I'm not afraid of you."

She could only guess that was why he decided to turn bedsheets into a cape of sorts, was because he thought she might be afraid or bothered by his appearance. But it wasn't the case at all, and she wanted him to be comfortable.

Upon seeing the gash, the creature tried his best not to stare, unable not to be fascinated over how strange he found it. Such a normal person with such a nasty abnormality on display. And not afraid for it to be seen either, more -- comfortable with it. The contrast was awful yet reassuring, he didn't know how to take it. The concern he felt over his own was no longer such a pressure on him. Humans gathered scars, perhaps that was just what happened in life. Maybe there was a man out there somewhere with as many as himself? Wouldn't that be a curious thing.

Feeling a hand on his hood, he flinched away almost instantly but didn't stop her from doing what she was doing. He didn't really want to. Hiding was easier but it didn't make him happy, he wanted acceptance above everything else. And when she didn't scream, he was more than happy to be free of it.

Despite his face no longer being obscured, he had trouble looking at her. A more bashful side of him took over and he deliberately looked the other way, staring at the floor instead of his new potential friend. Women were a troubling thing, he never knew how to take them and they always left him so flustered.

Hell, she said his name. His new wonderful name. And she didn't wince at the sight of him either. His heart was singing and he couldn't quite understand what it was. Contentment? Joy? Who knew.

"Many people are afraid of me. I would of said all before I came here. They scream at the sight of me and attack me. I don't do any wrong, they just see me as a monster," Adam explained, hand tracing the larger scar on his head without entirely realising it. It had become a little habit of his. "People are much kinder here. It is a strange thing indeed."

Carefully, she placed her hand at his cheek, and offered him a smile. "People can be kind here, you're right. You're kind, so most people here will be kind too." But still, there was a part of her that worried that others might not be accepting of him, and they might say things or treat him differently. She made a note to herself to keep an eye on things, and step in if it was ever needed.

With her hand on his face, she gently attempted to turn his head so he'd look at her. "If anyone here ever does any of those things, screaming or attacking, you let me know. You're not a monster just 'cause how you look. Remember that, yeah?"

Luckily, most people in the mansion were decent and knew better than to be horrible just because of someone's appearance. And she knew that it wasn't right to try and force him to allow her to watch out for him, but she was so used to trying to take care of other people at this point that it was just second nature to offer.

Human contact was a wonderful thing, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment, unable to help himself. He had spent so long isolated from others that even touch was such an odd and rare sensation. "You are very kind, Clara. I have never met someone so nice, so pure. I did know someone like you but -- I don't like to think about it! It is better we don't."

Elizabeth was the only one who pitied him back home and the one who he'd done his most unspeakable sin to. He would make it right, however. He would fix it.

"I will tell you but only if you promise to tell me if anyone tries to hurt you again. I am strong, I am capable of doing great harm. And I don't have as many worries over doing it as I once had," It was easy to get used to fighting. And he had made a promise to himself to only do it for good now. To protect those who needed protecting. That was Clara, surely.

With a smile and a very slight squeaky happy noise, Adam bounced back on the bed, excited that he'd not only made a new friend but been touched. "I am perhaps a very strong and noble warrior, yes? Like a soldier."

"Definitely strong, and most certainly noble. Just like a soldier," she grinned, reaching over to adjust the collar of his shirt. No point in letting him be just like a solider without that being just right, after all.

"You need to control that strength, though. Only use it when you absolutely have to. With no sure way out of Wonderland, it gets awful here when people use their strength against others without good reason."

It's happened before, even recently, and Clara frowned in concern at the memory of it. She didn't want to worry him, but felt he was better informed of these things from her than someone else in the mansion who was short in patience and prone to exaggeration. "I'll tell you if anyone tries to hurt me again, I promise. And if it happens, we can go take care of it together. The same goes for you, though. Anyone tries to hurt you in any way? Just let me know, and I'll be sure to make them sorry."

Because if Clara Oswald was anything, all five foot two of her was incredibly intimidating. Still, she was able to laugh at herself and so she did, reaching over to take hold of his hand. "Things will be all right. Just wait and see."

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