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[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

There isn't an Ace in a bar.

There, is, however, an Ace by the lake. She's found a nice sun-warmed rock to sit on, and is staring out over the lake.

...

Maybe someone should convince her to come in for dinner.

(Summary: Claire comes with a picnic dinner, in the hopes that Ace won't take off again. Eventually introductions are made, Seth is his usually uber-adorable self, and they trade 'my life up 'til now' stories. Evidently Ace has been pretty sparing with the details. Then they discuss Tim - Claire tries to paint him in a better light than Ace sees him, but Ace is terrified skeptical.
Raven comes out to talk to Ace. Ace apologizes for her snappishness the day before, and they introduce themselves. Somehow the conversation wanders through dealing with Fenric, how Raven reminds her of the Doctor somewhat, how she's really Ace, even if everyone wants the old one back, and pyroism. It's a wide-ranging conversation. And Raven is really neat.)

Comments

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

How about if the food comes to her?

Claire, a picnic basket, and a baby Seth make their way over to her.

"Hi," she says carefully, not wanting to scare her friend into running away again.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Ace does start a bit - she'd been lost in thoughts about what in the hell had happened to her, and how she could get back to London, and what to do about the Dalek in the cells. She turns slightly, and while she doesn't exactly grin enthusastically at Claire's arrival (to say nothing of Seth-baby), she doesn't look forbidding.
"Oh, er. Hullo. Mmm... S'Claire, right?" She ahs so few memories of this place... you'd think they'd be easier to keep a hold of.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

Claire's smile is equally disappointed and relieved. Same Ace as the other day, but at least she didn't make her cry again.

"That's right," she nods and sits down, shifting Seth a little in her arms. He squeals when he sees Ace and makes grabby hands in her direction.

"Shh, Seth. Not right now." Claire whispers to him, and then says to Ace, "I brought some food with me. Have you eaten recently?"

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

She shrugs slightly. Some things never change.
"Had some breakfast." She says non-committally as she offers a hand to little Seth. She's always had a weakness for babies. Something of a fear for handling them, but they are so awfully cute.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Cinnamon toast, cocoa, and peanut butter sandwiches. Nothing really healthy for you, but. . ." she shrugs and starts to set out the food on a small table cloth. "How have you been the past few days?"

Seth gives Claire a reproachful look and latches onto Ace's hand, happily chattering away. Ace-love! You're being so silly not remembering. I am cute. You should remember me!

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"Healthy can go hang." Ace agrees. She snags a slice of cinnamon toast with her free hand, since one is most definitely occupied. She's not sure what all that babble is, but at least the kid's not screaming.
"Eh." She shrugs in response to her question. In all honestly, it's been pretty horrid, but she imagines Claire doesn't want to hear that.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"Sucks doesn't it?" Claire nods. "Must be weird seeing all of these people who know you and you can't remember why."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Ace goes back to staring out over the lake, as if the answers to all of her problems are out there, somewhere.
"It's horrid. They're expecting someone else, and they get me. I've probably offended half of them, and driven the rest of them to pity. Can't stand either."

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

Claire nods again and takes a bite of a peanut butter sandwich, also staring out at the lake.

"Want to start over? I mean. . .I know an Ace, but she knows me too. So. . .it's sort of like we're both strangers sitting on this rock."

She holds out her hand. "I'm Claire Littleton. And this is my son Seth."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

She carefully frees her hand from Seth's grip and shakes Claire's.
"Nice to meet you Claire. And you too Seth." She doesn't say what she's thinking though. She's thinking that the problem with that theory is that they aren't strangers. She knows, deep down, Claire is hoping that something will change any moment now, and her Ace will be back. And maybe, probably, she's resenting this Ace, who's taken her friend away.

Ace doesn't blame her.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

Actually, what she's thinking is more along the lines of if they were able to be friends once, there's no reason they can't be friends again.


"I'm from Australia," she says. "Around 2004. I was in a plane crash on my way to the States, and about fifty of us survived on a deserted island. That's where I was before I came here."

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"Ugh." Doesn't sound like Ace's idea of a good time. "Was this little guy on the plane too?" She'd be terribly impressed if he was - plane crashes and babies usually don't mix too well.

[sendpeanutbtr.livejournal.com]

"I was still pregnant at the time," she smiles a little sadly.

"He didn't move for a few days and I thought. . .well, anyway. I didn't give birth to him until I came here. He's a bar baby all the way."

[creator_raven]

*Raven approaches, and waits until she notices him*

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Eventually she realizes someone is staring at her. She turns, tense, then relaxes. Oh.
"Hullo." She paues, thinking, then: "Sorry 'bout the snappishness last night. 'Ve had the headache from hell the last couple days."

[creator_raven]

I understand. Pain often does terrible things to one's mood.

*He pauses*

I forget--did I introduce myself yesterday?

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

She thinks about it, then shakes her head.
"No. Don't think I did either. Should we try that again? Hullo, M'Ace." She offers the stranger her hand."

[creator_raven]

*He takes her hand, and makes a half-bow over it*

Most call me Raven. It is a title is my name is my nature.

What manner of creature is an Ace?

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"M'a pyromaniac. I like making things explode. The whole 'saving the galaxy' gig just happens to fit into that nicely." She grins, cheerily. Not completely true - she turned down an offer made at the same time to become a mercenary, but mostly true.

[creator_raven]

A woman after my own heart, in some respects. The chaos part of things, more than the pyro bit, I think.

I create galaxies more than save them, to be strictly honest.

*He ruffles his own hair, and settles into the grass beside the boulder*

How many times have you saved the galaxy?

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

"By m'self?" She asks. Then she shakes her head.
"Almost never. Once I nearly destroyed it. But I travel around with this Time Lord called the Doctor, and we make a pretty good universe-saving team. Maybe...at least a couple-dozen times. More or less. S'not like we were keeping track."

[creator_raven]

You are very modest. It is, indeed, difficult to keep track of universe saving above approximately a five count. Tallying after that is simply gratuitous. *He grins*

How does one 'nearly' destroy a galaxy?

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Her expression sobers, and she looks away, back over the lake.
"By accidentally telling a nearly all-powerful demon from the dawn of time how to get out of a trap."

[creator_raven]

*He touches her hand, gently*

Despite all anyone may say, intent does matter. And so does the overall outcome. And you learned something, then, did you not?

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Her expression doesn't lighten any.
"Yes. I did." People can't be trusted one hundred percent, ever. Her life was one big pawn move. She's very easily manipulated.