Give her some space, let her anger run its course. Not for too long, though. You don't want her to think you've given up winning her over.
[She takes him by the hand at that point, and starts guiding him up to her room so they can sit and chat in privacy. She's not sure who else is lurking around the house.]
After that, I guess we ought to figure out if Charley's the sort that appreciates grand gestures or prefers the quiet sort of apologies.
[There's a pause, as she tries to...figure out how true that is. She just shrugs, and guides the way into her room, nodding over at the big red armchair for him to sit down.]
In this regeneration.
[It feels like a safe add on, anyway.]
Older you, he mentions that he has a granddaughter. Were you married once before?
[He slumps into the chair, and freezes at her question. People so rarely ask him that.]
Ah, well...y-yes, I suppose you could say that. Yes.
Time Lord society, though. Things were...different.
[The Time Lord equivalent to marriage could be such cold affairs. Though, he supposes that some human marriages were like that as well. Especially in the past, when they were for political gain and not for love.]
Well, not too different in some ways. There's just not much in the way of passion when it comes to my people.
Don't worry, I'm sure by the time you're your age, you've figured out the passion part just fine.
[There's Professor Song, after all. And Charley, of course. With a bit of a laugh, she plops down to sit on an arm of the chair, turning so her legs drape over his.]
Give it until tomorrow, then approach her. Cautiously, but honestly. Put that passion of yours to work, and I'm sure she'll come around in no time.
[He gives her a weak little chuckle and pats her leg.]
I've always been a bit different. Not always in that department, but...well, you've met Brax. He's closer to the Time Lord ideal than I ever was, much to his frustration. I must admit that I was probably one of those exasperating little brothers that was always underfoot and being obnoxious. You'd have to ask him.
[He settles back in the chair a bit more and heaves a sigh at the thought of Charley, his expression faltering.]
I hope so.
I can't lose her, Clara. I just can't. Not now. I'd lost her so long ago, and then I lost her again. I love her too much to let go now.
[At least as long as they're here, until they go back home and he's alone again.]
[She just casually files away the fact he's just referred to Brax as his brother, and smiles right through it. She hadn't actually known that fact, so she's surprised to hear it, but she supposes things make more sense knowing they have that bit of relation to them.]
You won't lose her. Not now. But eventually -
[She cuts herself off there, reminded of some of the thoughts she had been hit with during her talk with Charley. She frowns, giving a shake of her head.]
Eventually you'll regenerate and meet Rose, meet Professor Song. You'll even meet three versions of my face, not that it's the same as you and Charley. It's just...you'll let her go eventually.
[Unless he never leaves Asgard. She's starting to like the sound of that, for him. For all the Doctors, really.]
But while you're here, Doctor, I promise that you won't lose her. I won't allow it to happen.
[She nudges his arm, giving him a mock-stern look.]
Even if I have to stand off in the shadows with cue cards for you to read, just to make sure you don't mess anything up, I'll do it. This is gonna come out sounding ridiculously cheesy, so have some patience with it, but when I say my Doctor -
[There's a pause, and she ducks her head so she can laugh at herself a little.]
It also includes you now. Most of the time, anyway. So I've got a bit of an interest in making sure you're actually happy.
[He doesn't laugh. Of course not. He just...stares at her, dumbfounded.]
Me? Clara, I'm honored.
[He'd lived long enough and met enough companions now that he's familiar with how special the phrase "my Doctor" is.]
Very well, so what is my first course of action? Fiona said get her a "big rock", but I'd already had that planned before all this happened. Still not getting something too big, because that's just gaudy.
And don't tell anyone I said that.
[Because apparently spilling the beans to all and sundry seems to be Eight's thing. He's terrible at keeping secrets like this. At least about himself.]
[That earns a surprised gasp from Clara, and she gives a shake of her head, almost in disbelief.]
Just a regular ring, then? Or is it one meant to propose?
[Oh, please let him be proposing. The idea of it excites her, just because she wants so desperately for him to be happy and content with life. And being with Charley sounds like the perfect way to do that, really.]
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[She takes him by the hand at that point, and starts guiding him up to her room so they can sit and chat in privacy. She's not sure who else is lurking around the house.]
After that, I guess we ought to figure out if Charley's the sort that appreciates grand gestures or prefers the quiet sort of apologies.
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I...honestly don't know which she'd prefer. I suppose I should.
I'm terrible at this.
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[There's a pause, as she tries to...figure out how true that is. She just shrugs, and guides the way into her room, nodding over at the big red armchair for him to sit down.]
In this regeneration.
[It feels like a safe add on, anyway.]
Older you, he mentions that he has a granddaughter. Were you married once before?
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Ah, well...y-yes, I suppose you could say that. Yes.
Time Lord society, though. Things were...different.
[The Time Lord equivalent to marriage could be such cold affairs. Though, he supposes that some human marriages were like that as well. Especially in the past, when they were for political gain and not for love.]
Well, not too different in some ways. There's just not much in the way of passion when it comes to my people.
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[There's Professor Song, after all. And Charley, of course. With a bit of a laugh, she plops down to sit on an arm of the chair, turning so her legs drape over his.]
Give it until tomorrow, then approach her. Cautiously, but honestly. Put that passion of yours to work, and I'm sure she'll come around in no time.
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I've always been a bit different. Not always in that department, but...well, you've met Brax. He's closer to the Time Lord ideal than I ever was, much to his frustration. I must admit that I was probably one of those exasperating little brothers that was always underfoot and being obnoxious. You'd have to ask him.
[He settles back in the chair a bit more and heaves a sigh at the thought of Charley, his expression faltering.]
I hope so.
I can't lose her, Clara. I just can't. Not now. I'd lost her so long ago, and then I lost her again. I love her too much to let go now.
[At least as long as they're here, until they go back home and he's alone again.]
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You won't lose her. Not now. But eventually -
[She cuts herself off there, reminded of some of the thoughts she had been hit with during her talk with Charley. She frowns, giving a shake of her head.]
Eventually you'll regenerate and meet Rose, meet Professor Song. You'll even meet three versions of my face, not that it's the same as you and Charley. It's just...you'll let her go eventually.
[Unless he never leaves Asgard. She's starting to like the sound of that, for him. For all the Doctors, really.]
But while you're here, Doctor, I promise that you won't lose her. I won't allow it to happen.
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[There's a bitter chuckle at that.]
And yes, I know, but that's a while off. I assume so, at least. Besides, who knows how long we'll be stuck here.
Wait, how do you plan on making sure it doesn't happen?
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[She nudges his arm, giving him a mock-stern look.]
Even if I have to stand off in the shadows with cue cards for you to read, just to make sure you don't mess anything up, I'll do it. This is gonna come out sounding ridiculously cheesy, so have some patience with it, but when I say my Doctor -
[There's a pause, and she ducks her head so she can laugh at herself a little.]
It also includes you now. Most of the time, anyway. So I've got a bit of an interest in making sure you're actually happy.
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Me? Clara, I'm honored.
[He'd lived long enough and met enough companions now that he's familiar with how special the phrase "my Doctor" is.]
Very well, so what is my first course of action? Fiona said get her a "big rock", but I'd already had that planned before all this happened. Still not getting something too big, because that's just gaudy.
And don't tell anyone I said that.
[Because apparently spilling the beans to all and sundry seems to be Eight's thing. He's terrible at keeping secrets like this. At least about himself.]
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Just a regular ring, then? Or is it one meant to propose?
[Oh, please let him be proposing. The idea of it excites her, just because she wants so desperately for him to be happy and content with life. And being with Charley sounds like the perfect way to do that, really.]
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Ah...yes, one meant to propose. I don't know if she'll say yes anymore, but I want to try.
We'll forget all about it when we leave Asgard, but as long as we're here, I want to do this for her. I have a hope it will make her happy.
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[She's grinning at that bashful smile on his face, but it doesn't stop her from playfully hitting at his arm.]
Or else.
[Really. She's so incredibly intimidating. She knows.]
Really though. Try not to worry so much. Things always have a habit of falling right into place.
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[He feigns a pout and rubs his arm.]
I don't see why you wouldn't be.
[She's downright terrifying.]
Well, I hope so. I've had enough in my life falling apart rather than into place. If this world can give me one thing, it can at least give me this.