cuddlecity | colors spilling from night to day (ota)

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colors spilling from night to day (ota)

CHARACTERS: Claire Temple & Derek Hale; Claire Temple & you
LOCATIONS: Dinah's, the hospital, wherever you'd like
WARNINGS: None, as far as I know so far, will edit if required
SUMMARY: Claire goes on a breakfast date, and is here for any and all scratches. Come see her!!

i. closed to derek's; dinah's

[ The night was barely letting up, even as 6 am rolled out. Still in her scrubs, a comfortable hoodie thrown over them, Claire leaves the hospital under the night sky, despite her shift being over. Winter days always makes her feel like she should be staying longer, like her shift isn't finished until the sun is coming up.

It's also that shifts, in Cadelle, feel too long and too short all at the same time, because she finds herself with very little to do too often. It stretches the hours but also makes her feel like she's not doing enough. A weird dichotomy.

But this morning, she's ready for her work day to be done. She's starving, which makes her drive faster than she should to Dinah's for breakfast - not the fact that she's supposed to meet Derek there, no. The diner is empty when she makes it there anyway, the bell sounding loud in the quiet of the place as she walks in, gets herself situated in a small booth. She can wait for him anyway - at least that way she gets some coffee, to fight how cold her fingers feel.

When he does come in, she'll greet him with a little wave and a big smile, before going back to the menu in front of her. ]

ii. open; hospital

[ The more common accidents that happen in Cadelle are not the ones that Claire is the most used to dealing with. Here, there are no bullet wounds, no gang fights, no violence between men. Here, she helps with domestic accidents more than anything else - not that they can't be very bad themselves, but it is refreshing, in a way, for her to deal with accidents that have nothing to do with men hating other men.

And, more often than not, the hospital is quiet. So tonight, when you come in with your emergency, Claire is most probably rearranging the supplies locker for the umpteenth time, or maybe racing herself around the empty corridors, or dancing to the radio while cleaning up a bed (or the Christmas decorations she put up a few weeks ago). Whichever it is, she'll stop everything to help you out, of course. ]

iii. open; wildcard

[ Hmu with anything! Find me at

ellievolia if you'd like to plot something in particular! ]

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[ CriminALES is smokey dark when Claire walks in - her one day off of the week. She's been pushed by the strong need for a stiff drink and possibly some company, after the holidays making her maudlin and spending too much time alone. It's not necessarily a much better look to go drinking alone in a bar, but one must make some choices.

Besides, she's not alone for more than two seconds, before she spots Vasquez, sitting in a corner, himself unaccompanied. There's something about the look on his face - it worries Claire, and she's quick to order her usual drink, before walking over to his table. ]

Hey, [ Her tone is soft, although obviously concerned. ] Mind if I sit?

[He's been drinking for what feels like maybe only an hour, but the truth is, he's been here for probably most of the late morning and into the afternoon, losing time thanks to his seat away from the door and windows, not tracking how the sunlight is moving. Glancing up when he sees Claire, he gestures beside him.

He's not drunk. He's been very careful to keep drinking only enough to keep him somewhat tipsy, but he's not drunk.]

Sit if you want, but I'm not very good company today.

[ She sits, careful, the chair creaking under her weight anyway. Everything in this bar feels old-school, like it's been carefully crafted to look like just any old pub anywhere in the world. There's something kinda magical about it. ]

Do you want to talk about it?

[ She switches to Spanish immediately, just because she knows he's more comfortable in it, and that if he wants to talk, he can do so in his native tongue. They've proven they can talk about what's bothering them before, even if they were influenced by the weird rain thing that happened a month or so ago. ]

Even without the weird rain, I'm still willing to listen.

[Vasquez gives a snort as he looks at his bottle of liquor, sure as he ever is that talking about it won't do anything to help him feel better so much as it's just going to make him feel that he's bearing his soul. Then again, the look of appreciation on his face is clear when she switches to Spanish, because at least fewer people will understand him now.]

It's simple. I didn't understand that when you're here, it's not for good.

[He should have already figured that out when he stopped seeing Faraday around, but he'd taken the man's absence as a peace offering to not get in his way. When suddenly, it's Buffy not responding to his calls and messages, it's different.]

[ For a moment, Claire just sits, her fingers wrapped around her glass. Vasquez' features are drawn, like he hasn't slept in a while. A part of her wants to reach out, but she doesn't, biting her lip. ]

Who left?

[ She's read her contract pretty thoroughly before signing it and agreeing to come to Cadelle, but considering how she and Vasquez had met, she isn't surprised that he didn't. Which doesn't make what he's going through any less shitty. ]

I'm sorry. This place... it's very temporary, I think, for most people. It isn't for you, is it.

Faraday. [ That's not the one that hurts, though. ] Buffy.

[ It feels strange to admit, because he didn't want to think that this was possible. He wanted to pretend that he could find a loophole or somehow escape the terms of being here, that people wouldn't always stay. Maybe he'd just figured he'd be the one to leave, but he's not. ]

If I go home, I'm a dead man. Better to be here, even if it's confusing and I don't understand it very well. It's not so good to be left, though.

[ Ah, shit. What she was worried about.

She stomps on the sudden, misplaced swell of hope that blooms in her chest, inwardly giving herself a stern talking to. She's not going to be that person, not to him, or anyone else; he needs a friend right now, not an opportunist. And she's not one to take advantage of anyone - it would make her just as bad as Fisk if she was, and the mere idea repulses her.

No. There are decent times for allowing these feelings, and now is not it. ]

Oh, Vasquez, I'm truly sorry. For what it's worth, I'm sure it wasn't a decision she took lightly. She may have very important things to look after, back home.

[He feels tired, honestly, but that just means that he hasn't had enough liquor, in his opinion. He wants to be so much more drunk than he is right now, annoyed with himself that the first time he tried to do something right and she ran away before he did.

Snorting, he gives Claire a disbelieving look.]

I don't give a shit the reasons she left, all that I know is it means that I was wrong about wanting to try and do something the right way.

[ If she's taken aback by the sudden anger in his voice and words, Claire doesn't let it show. She keeps her eyes on him, unflinching. ]

Why? Because it wasn't enough to keep her here?

[ If she didn't understand where he was coming from, her tone would probably be angrier. But she does get it - she's been on the sidelines before. She's been left behind, in a way, even if she likes to think the decision came from her. ]

I think it's very brave that you tried to go for a real relationship, and you shouldn't decide here and now that you won't anymore. But I wouldn't blame you for being wary, either.

Because there was no point to spending all my energies to do something in a modern, right way.

[ He'd thought that he understood, that he could be a gentleman and find some happiness out of it, but just like the rest of his life, it had been too short-lived and it had gone away. He never even really got a chance. ]

I think that I'm not going to do anything for a while, not like that. The way it goes, I think I will only see heartbreak again. Pass me that bottle? I could use the drinking.

Think you'd feel any better if you'd hurt her instead?

[ There's a hint of judgment in her voice, which she swallows down immediately. This isn't what he needs right now, not when he's in pain and processing. She isn't sure he's ever been brokenhearted before, but she is well acquainted with the feeling, and with how shitty it feels to be judged for the anger it brings.

She slides the bottle from the side of the table over to him, keeping her fingers loose around it for a moment. ]

Were I younger, I'd tell you that the heartbreak is worth it. But at this point, I kinda agree with you, here. This place... it's temporary for most people. So trying to get something lasting out of it seems pointless. I know it's not what I'm looking for, either.

[ He scowls, because she's right. He'd have felt worse if he'd hurt her, even unintentionally. The look on his face shows that and he slumps forward a little as he drinks, thinking that he's got a good plan to numb this away with tequila. ]

I know that we talked about this before, you, me, wanting things. I thought maybe because I was no longer an outlaw, I could do it differently, but if this is how the city works and no one stays permanently, then it's just the same as home.

[ He's not sure why he's so disappointed, but maybe, just maybe, a part of him had been hoping (deep down) that he could get over his fears and one day have something that his family had. ]

[ Claire downs her drink, reaching out for the bottle in his hands and pouring herself some, as well. It feels like the kind of conversation that requires it. ]

I think - the difference between home and Cadelle, for you, might not be in relationships. Thing is, here? You can be whoever you want to be. Here, you're not an outlaw. Here, you're safe and you don't have to kill or be killed. You don't have to steal to survive.

[ She points her glass in his direction. ] That's important. And I don't think no one but you plans on staying. Some people... they have nothing to go home to. Don't give up yet.

[ He knows that he's not hunted and that he can have a job and a life. Maybe a part of him had also thought he could be the kind of man who had a girlfriend, someone who was his partner. He'd really enjoyed the time with Buffy, but then, there are others too.

Claire, for one. Reaching out to slide his fingers to twist up in hers, he absently, loosely, holds on. ]

Maybe for now, I just need some friendliness. I don't think I'm going to be so stupid to make my same mistakes for a while.

[ If she's surprised by his sudden touch, she doesn't show it, just smiles gently, squeezing his fingers with hers as she puts her glass down. The calluses on his fingers don't match hers, their lives so incredibly different, but she likes it all the same. ]

Well, I'm here for you. I've been told I'm an excellent listener, any time you want to talk.

[ She isn't sure he wants to - it isn't much his speed, from what she's seen, but she's also willing to pursue 'friendliness' in other ways if that's what he wants. She's not here to fall in love, herself. ]

I'm not exactly thinking that it will be listening when I do call you.

[ He knows that it won't be right away either. He wants to be respectful, wants to give her the chance to not worry that he's pushing forward for the wrong reasons, but he also knows that there's going to be a time when he wants more. ]

Maybe, after what the rain made you say, I think you won't mind this so much?

[ With a chuckle, Claire drops her head, feeling the flush climbing up her cheeks. Even though she herself brought it up, being reminded that she came onto him when he had a girlfriend back then is embarrassing, even if most of it wasn't entirely her fault.

Licking her lips, she looks back up, grinning crookedly. ]

No, I don't think I'd mind so much.

[ She doesn't even care, about being a rebound, or used, in some way, to make him feel better. She knows what they are - friends foremost, and Claire trusts Vasquez. She thinks he trusts her, too. She's not worried about tumbling into bed with him ruining their friendship. She thinks it'd actually be pretty fun, and it shows in her voice, amused and a little flirty, full of innuendos, when she speaks next. ]

I think I'd probably have a rather good time, actually.

[ He still can feel that awful misery in the back of his throat, sitting unpleasantly in his chest, and he doesn't think that anything will happen too soon, but he also likes the promise on the horizon of something else. That smile of hers when she looks at him is almost as good as a drink. ]

I think I could make it a good time, when I'm not a sad drunk.

[ After all, right now, he's afraid that he wouldn't even be able to do anything for long enough to make it matter, which would be a poor showing. ]

All my life, I always let things be easy and light. This is the first time it wasn't and it feels like a sign. I think that maybe you're right and because of the way things are temporary, I shouldn't be acting like anything can last forever.

[ Leaning in, she curls her free hand around his forearm, rubbing gently in hopes of a reassuring gesture. She doesn't want him to think there's no hope at all, in Cadelle. It feels like it'd be a waste. ]

I think you should take it day by day. Heartache is tough, I know, but... it heals. We move on. We get better. We fall in love again. It could happen, here or somewhere else. Don't close the door on the possibility, even if it's a slim one.

[ He doesn't think that he's the type who can fall in love so easy and besides, he's not sure that he'd gotten to that point. He'd deeply cared, of course, but it had been short and sweet, something that he enjoyed, but wasn't sure how it worked for him. ]

Does this mean that next time if our positions are changed, I give you this same speech?

[ Claire barks out a laugh, flushing deep as she looks away from him. She's not exactly what one would call an expert in the matters of the heart, but she's had her heart broken. ]

Feel free to, if you think I need to hear it. But it wouldn't be my first time.

[ She looks back up at Vasquez, biting the inside of her lip. ]

Which is why I'm taking things day by day, now. Why I'm not looking to settle down, really. If it happens, I'll take it, but... it's not what I'm looking for, exactly.

[ And the look she gives him leaves very little to the imagination as to what she's looking for. ]

[ He feels awful for wanting to indulge in something physical and without attachment, but he also knows better. If he does that now with Claire, he'll regret it. That's why it's more important to smoke his cigarette and drink. Later, when he feels like himself again, he knows that he's going to call her. ]

When you go, I promise, I'll have the very biggest of shots waiting for me to lose such a lovely woman.

[ She gives him a soft smile, fingers brushing his. ]

And I'll do the same on the other side. [ She doesn't like to think about it. Going back home. Not yet. ]

But that's neither here nor there. However, I should go. I've got a bathtub with my name on it waiting at home.

[ It's not an invitation, but he's welcome to think about it if he'd like. She leans in as she stands, brushing her lips to his cheek. ]

I truly am sorry.

You shouldn't be tempting a hurt man so with images of you in a bathtub.

[ Still, it's not going to be tonight. Even if he wanted to, the amount of liquor in his system is going to make it impossible and he thinks that she knows this. Giving her a press-lipped nod and a thankful look, he knows that it could be worse.

He's still got friends. ]

Next time, maybe when we get a drink, I won't be such a pathetic sad man. That would be good, no?

[ She gives him a smile in answer, all coy. ]

Just something to keep you going.

[ Squeezing a hand around his shoulder when she straightens up, Claire nods, shrugging on her coat. ]

While I don't think you're pathetic, yeah, it'd be good. I'd like that. You've got my number.

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quinientos - 2018-01-27 14:52 (UTC) - Expand

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colors spilling from night to day (ota)

[closed to vasquez]

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