milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

ace (pyro),
raven

(no subject)

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.)

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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."

*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?

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.

*He can, perhaps, see this self-recrimination*

You learned to question your own judgment. Taken with a grain of salt, it is a valuable thing. And the demon did not destroy you, old though it was. You have a very great strength.

She snorts, humorlessly.
"Nah. Doctor just found someting bigger and stronger than the demon and played the vengance card. They destroyed each other." Ace hadn't had any part of it.

Demons breed despair. You are still here.
It is the closest thing to victory most get against such as they.

*He pauses, frowns, then removes a small stone from his pocket. It has a neat hole in the middle, worn smooth. He tosses it to her*

She catches it without thinking, plucking the stone out of the air. Hand-eye coordination was always one of her strong points - a very good thing, considering her hobby of choice.
"What's this?" She's still musing over Raven's words though. He might have a point.

Something like a worry stone. Stories say that such a stone, when the hole through the center is bored by a river, lets one see through illusion. Specifically faerie illusion, but I imagine the definition is rather loose.

I find holding it distracts me from my worry. May it do the same for you.

She blinks at him, a bit surprised. There's a smile there - faint, strained, exhausted, but there. She's still Ace, after all.
"Ta. This is a... very worrying place." Some seem to be at home here... but home to her, right now, is a softly humming TARDIS, and she seems to be short on those.

I can see how it would be. I find it comforting, but I have been away from people for a long time.

"People tell me I'm supposed to be home here. All I know is there's a bloody Dalek in the cells, and I'm the wrong Ace. S'not very home-like." She aighs. She knows those people who say they are her friends mean well. It's just... very odd.

'Supposed to be' and 'are' are very different things, you're right.

And not the 'wrong' Ace, never that. You're Ace, however you choose to be. They will grow used to it, in time, if they must.

She's quiet for quite a while.

"Ta, Raven." It was something she needed to hear.

If it's any comfort, I like you quite well.

The ghost of what was once a smile makes a reappearance. It's nice being around someone who isn't fretting about what was lost.
"Well, ta for that. I like me quite well too, most times. And you're not such a bad bloke y'self."

Thank you.

*He grins, and oh there is such mischief in his eyes*

You may want to get to know me better, before you commit to such a thing.

She's seen that sort of look before. But usually for her it's accompanied by a rolling scottish brogue and a bit of Time Lord mystique.
"I get that a lot. Wonder why."

You attract troublemakers, perhaps?

*Oh, such innocence. He should probably be batting his eyes*

"Nah. Just work with one. Who happens to be Time's champion and sticks his nose into every puzzle and argument he can find. Silly bugger." She says, affectionately. She and the Doctor may have had some knock-down, drag-out rows, and there's definitely trust issues, but she does love him.

He sounds like a man after my own heart.

She snorts.
"You two'd get on like a house on fire, I think. I picked up most of my more suicidal tendencies from him." Like taunting enemies who are much stronger than you.

mmm.

Hadn't worked so well this time.

I've never been sure whether that means we'd get on very well, or we'd try to kill each other.

*He cocks his head*

Which suicidal tendencies would those be?

"Y'know? I'm not sure either. Prolly 'cause both could be true." She reasons, then sighs.
"Mouthing off to beings much more powerful than I am, charging into fights just because I think I can help, not letting silly things like men with guns stand in my way." You know. Things most sane people think about twice.

I am not alone in my ignorance, then. I give great thanks.

I wouldn't exactly call those suicidal tendencies. Life is pretty pointless without a little pushing of limits.

*If Raven didn't totally do the same things, he'd be in a position to say something else.*

"Pretty boring, you mean. Besdies. If you can't mouth off to people who are stronger than you, and are going to eat you for lunch anyway, what's the point?"

...

It's actually pretty miraculous Ace has survived so long.