(no subject)

[tapping]

Oh now that's charming. Look at you, getting all excited at the prospect of playing me again. Have you forgotten the last time you tried? Absolutely petrified, you poor thing; you couldn't take all of that drumming, let alone all of those thoughts. Oh, and I was the very definition of patient, waiting for you to get over that little fear of yours and to return to me, but then you picked him up and suddenly I was nothing.

Do you know what that's like? To be the king and then pushed down into the ruins of your kingdom, locked away into the silence because it's easier than listening? No, of course you don't.

Well, you're going to find out. Well, sort of, I can't be bothered with all of that silence, I'm much more eager to share the drums with you again. You remember them, don't you? _{[ He taps, rapping his fingers against the hard wooden desk he's currently sitting on top of, legs crossed for politeness. ]} I thought you would. They've missed you. We're so happy to have you back on board. Because I just hate getting dolled up and having nowhere to go. Look, I've even done my hair.

Why don't you just run along and rewatch my episodes? You might find them informational as well as educational.

Off you go. I'll be waiting.

Comments

[10th_doctor]

[Here's the Doctor, trying for casual.]

I thought I told you to leave them alone.

[tapping]

_{[ Casual? Really? The Master leans in to break that casual look up into pieces. ]}

What, no hello? No backhanded compliments? Honestly Doctor, you're getting so boring in your old age.

[10th_doctor]

Why should I offer you anything?

[tapping]

I think that's something you need to ask yourself, dear Doctor.

_{[ Because he's not the one that practically begs for the Master to be his travelling pet. ]}

[10th_doctor]

[Master burned that bridge by dying in his arms.]

I offered you everything. You turned it down.

[humany_wumany]

[ jesus christ- ]

Oh, it's just what we want and need out and about, isn't it?

[tapping]

_{[ And just like that his charm slips away, replaced with something akin to disgust. ]}

Oh, no. You offered me enslavement.

[tapping]

It might not be what you want, but it's definitely what you need.

Just look at you. You've turned hipster.

[10th_doctor]

[He scratches the back of his head.]

I offered for you to come with me. How you interpreted it is different.

[He growls with frustration and starts to pace.]

Do you really think they would have let you out of there alive if they thought for one second that I wouldn't "keep you"?

[tapping]

I don't regret my choice. And it was a choice, much more than being your precious little pet would have been.

The idea of travelling anywhere with you is laughable at best; you'd have stuck a collar onto me and chained me up to the nearest pole without even pausing to think.

_{[ He's so unimpressed by it all, hopping back up onto his desk and looking incredibly forlorn. ]}

If you want to treat me like a maniac, that's fine. But don't treat me like a fool. That's just insulting.

[10th_doctor]

[He chuckles, but it's a bitter sound.]

Is that what you think of me? After all this time? [There's a slight pause.] You still don't understand it, do you?

[humany_wumany]

[ harshly, ] Yes, well, that's just something we'll have to see at the end of it all.

And you've still got the same old boringy no bowtie, so let's not knock anything we haven't tried.

[tapping]

Oh, this one's feisty, isn't he?

_{[ queue the Master casually scoping this new Doctor out, circling him quite easily before coming to a stop before him. He'll offer an approving nod, tilting his head with vague amusement. ]}

There's a reason that bowties died a firey death when they did. Absolutely hideous, but then that's your general sense of style, isn't it?

I'm not even going to start on that hair.

[tapping]

I understand more than you do, apparently.

If you expected a grand reunion with us running into each other's open arms, you need to wake up and smell the burning civilisation that's crumbling at your feet.

There's a reason I keep denying you and your little whims; I've never been one for sentiment, and you're practically dripping with it.

You're just so high maintenance.

[humany_wumany]

Huff and puff and blow your house down.

[ The thing about the bowtie is that when it comes down to it, when it really does, he has no words, none that seem fitting - he adjusts it, blankly, pinching it at either side and keeping mum. ]

[ But he doesn't move, of course he doesn't; lets the man have his once-over that he wants, with his own eyes following him the entire way around. ]

Really, though, flattery will get you everywhere. [ He claps his hands, and he's unfettered except for that one edge to his eyes that he can't quite shake whenever he's around. ] So you like it? Just got it cut.

[10th_doctor]

[He tugs at his ear.]

I expect nothing of you.

[Not since Master died in his arms.]

Except perhaps, for once to stay dead.

[And let him be sentimental in peace.]

[tapping]

No, can't possibly do that. The universe and I have quite the bond; she just can't cope without me, and who could blame her?

[tapping]

If you're the big bad wolf, does that make me little Red Riding Hood?

_{[ Because he's not so sure about that. The Master will stick with his silken ties, thank you very much. They're expensive and at the height of fashion; what more could he ever need? Let's just forget about that hoodie and the collar, shall we? It was a dark moment in his life. ]}

It might, but I've already been everywhere of merit and I'm not looking to revisit.

_{[ Casually, he reaches out to flick that fringe aside. It's like a tidal wave engulfing his face. ]}

It's very emo. I bet you're in with all of the coolest kids.

[10th_doctor]

[The Doctor's tone softens, his expression shifts, but he will not cry. Not again, not over the Master.]

You don't get it. Do you have any idea how hard it is - every time?

[tapping]

_{[ He couldn't make this sound any more sarcastic if he tried. ]}

Aw. There, there.

[humany_wumany]

It's either that or the shepherd boy who never does get it quite right, take your pick.

[ This is all wrong. He doesn't want to be the wolf. This metaphor is stupid. ]

[ The comment gets a darkened scowl, just a touch peeved, and though he lets the Master at his hair, he petulantly swats his hand after a second's pause. ] Fun's over, pool's closed for business and all that, you're not actually staying, are you?

[10th_doctor]

Stopit.

[Yes, it's one word.]

We could have seen the universe together.

[ofdrumsthesound]

Silence. I can't even imagine silence now, can you?

[lovelightly]

Look at you! You sound just like a mean old rat. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

[tapping]

Oh, in that case then I'll definitely go for Red Riding Hood. I've always figured red my colour.

<sub>[ Well, he'd have taken the role of the big bad wolf, but the Doctor absolutely claimed him. ]

[ At the swat the Master fakes a hurt look, pulling his hand back to cradle it. ]</sub> Do you really need to ask? It's not as though I have a home to go to or anything.

_{[ no, you took care of that, didn't you, Doctor? ]}

[tapping]

Obviously. I've been trapped in nothing but silence for years. Don't you read?

[tapping]

Ashamed? Why would I be ashamed? I've always liked Ratigan far more than Basil.

[ofdrumsthesound]

There's always the drums, though.

[tapping]

Oh it's very you, isn't it? To travel the galaxy, hand in hand with your precious little pets.

But what if I don't want to travel? What if all I want to do is take over a few planets, squash a few civilisations and watch things burn the way Gallifrey did?

You see, your plan doesn't cater to anyone other than yourself, and I'm not the type to sacrifice my plans for the sake of anyone else.

_{[ and you don't get to choose what the Master does with his life, or his death. ]}

[tapping]

And what a fall back plan that is.

[humany_wumany]

Well. It suits you.

[ It wasn't like he'd been expecting him to run with it. Something he should have figured, retrospectively, but, well, hindsight and all that. ]

[ And the rest just hurts but that's always something they've gone for - failing the throat, one of the hearts at least. His hands rub together, carefully. ]

You never know. Last I checked, you didn't have a pulse to go back to either, let alone two, but we'll call this a place of miracles.

[ofdrumsthesound]

*Bitterly* For us or for the High Council?

*Then he smiles.* At least I got to eat Rassilon, that was nice of my mun.

[10th_doctor]

[The mention of Gallifrey burning causes the Doctor's breath to hitch.]

None of it matters now, since your dead.

[tapping]

You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were flirting with me.

_{[ But Doctors don't flirt, do they? ]}

The universe and I go way back; I'm sure we'll figure something out to make my stay more... permanent. If nothing else, those games bring back the dead at a drop of a heartbeat.

[tapping]

If I had another chance, I'd die all over again. How does that feel?

[10th_doctor]

[He's not rising to the bait this time.]

The number of times you've died? I'll get used to it...

[Eventually. Okay, probably never, but he's not admitting that right now either.]

days late, but I thought I'd still drop in. >>

[tildeathdouspart]

[Someone isn't very happy to see him. Never mind Lucy over here looking slightly horrified.]

You're back. Again.

bring it on. ♥ hope this is ok? not too godmoddy? I can change it if so!

[tapping]

_{[ The Master all but saunters over, all up in her personal space with an off-putting smirk. ]}

Oh, Lucy. Lucy, Lucy, Lucy. You can never get rid of me. Not really.

_{[ Gently, he reaches placing a single finger on her forehead, ]} Because I'm up here. _{[ and then his hand falls back down, hovering above her hip. ]}

Nah, you're fine! ♥

[tildeathdouspart]

[ Lucy practically freezes when he touches her, shudders once and then goes very, very still. It takes her a moment, but after all that has happened she finally has enough strength of her own to find her voice again, even if it's trembling. ]

You know that I would shoot you again if I had the chance.

Sorry for the slow - I'm doing game tags too aaa

[tapping]

_{[ Oh, she's as much his as she's always been. A little touch here, a little breath on her neck; he licks his lips and turns his eyes up to hers. ]}

Charming. And here I thought we could have a little reunion; dinner, wine, dancing under the stars and moonlit walks by the beach.

_{[ All with a little hypnotism in mind, of course. ]}

Don't pretend you don't miss me, Lucy. My hearts just couldn't take the rejection.

Don't worry about the slow. I've got a case of timezones, so I'll be the same

[tildeathdouspart]

[ She doesn't quite know why she feels herself smile. It's not friendly, it's bitter and spiteful, but it is nonetheless a smile. Maybe it's a trained response by now - surely that's all it is. ]

I did wait for you...

[ To come back to life so she could ruin it to the best of her ability. But she can't bring herself to say as much. ]

[humany_wumany]

Oh, but you do know better, so that's hardly any fun for you, is it?

[ Not confirming and not denying, ever the illustrious and vague. ]

You already had the one; why spoil that now? I'd hate for you to repeat yourself. [ He looks up at Master through his fringe, and his smile is very careful, with a bit of bite, of warning to it. ] Really, I would.