(no subject)

[velvetdandy]

Yes, I know you're bored, but there's hardly anything I can do about it is there? Why don't you go and work on some of those applications, that'll keep you busy.

[It's sort of impressive how he can sound so condescending without taking his eyes off the wiring.]

Look, I'm terribly sorry but I've got my hands full at the moment. This temporal transponder won't fix itself.

[SIGH.]

If you insist on being a bother, go and fetch us some tea will you? There's a good girl.

Comments

[velvetdandy]

What?! No - surely they wouldn't be fool enough to - but that's utter madness! Tampering with the Web of Time like that, the harm they could do is unimaginable!

[la la la, ignoring 'last great time war' in favour of being outraged. also ignoring the fact that crossed timelines make all his outrage useless.]

I shall send word to the President at once! To overreact at my own trial is bad enough, but this sort of punishment? Even for a renegade of your status, it's an abomination. There must be a rogue element behind this. Surely they must see that they're doing more harm than good?

[ofdrumsthesound]

It was a war between us and the Daleks, Doctor. I'm sure the Council didn't just do it to me anyway.

And it was a majority vote. They made me into the key for a Time Lock, and now my mind is filled with war drums. They get louder and louder until I kill people just to make the noise lessen and the pain stop.

and bed now. poor messed up master.

[velvetdandy]

War with the Daleks? Innocent Time Lords [yes in the face of this larger crime the Master is practically expunged of guilt in the Doctor's eyes] sacrificed in the name of protection! Of all the pig-headed, beauracratic ridiculousness I expected from those baboons on Gallifrey, this goes too far.

This injustice cannot be allowed to stand. [And hanging delicately in the air the Doctor is definitely not asking where he stood in regards to this monstrosity. Because if he was ok with it he may just commit suicide. Seven times or so.]

Yeah . . .

[ofdrumsthesound]

And how would you fix it, Doctor? Rewrite history again?

You didn't let it stand. You ended the war. *He sighs.* And my ruin was how they tried to stop you from doing it.

But I killed them in the end, so that's alright. And the drums are just what I am now. Thousands of years with them, my whole life since I was eight, means that I can't cope without them anymore.

[velvetdandy]

[Ok that's a hard one, because the Doctor's whole thing is running away from problems he can't fix.]

[Also drums? What?]


There's always a better way. Perhaps not for this ... Time War [still not acknowledging that] ... but for you, yes. A way without killing.

You're ruthless in my time, yes, but hardly deranged. I don't believe this is a fixed point.

[ofdrumsthesound]

Ruthlessness is just the first sign. The earliest symptom.

Later comes killing if I have to, then killing if it's easier, and finally killing because it's just so damned fun.

[velvetdandy]

And have you tried to just stop? [It's snapped. He's sympathetic, but killing for fun puts him on edge.]

[ofdrumsthesound]

Yes, I have. It usually takes about three days before I'm rolling around on the floor screaming.

The Council wanted a weapon, so they made me into one.

[velvetdandy]

[Unhappy muttering.] Of course those fools did. Never do things the easy way do they?


Look, what else have you tried? It's completely unlike you to give up. Where am ... where are your usual allies in this?

[ofdrumsthesound]

Zero Rooms just make me freak out in the opposite direction--the silence can be enough to make my body think I must be dead, or something like that. And nothing else affects the signal at all.

You are currently the only person I trust who understands any of this, Doctor. My you, I mean.

[velvetdandy]

Well, that's something. [It is in fact a relief, that he's still around and no matter their differences they haven't split far enough apart that he won't help the Master in a clear time of need.]

Am I helping?

[ofdrumsthesound]

You're doing your best. You hold me and comfort me when the pain gets bad, and you forgive me for what it makes me do.

[velvetdandy]

[That's not helping, to his mind. There needs to be a line drawn, and while forgiveness is important, it's not as good as prevention. He sounds a little agitated. He doesn't like the idea of the two of them stuck in a cycle like this.]

Yes, but am I helping?

Threadjack okay?

[timesbureaucrat]

Oh as if you're one to criticize other people for tampering, Doctor.

Did you enjoy your exile?

And double threadjacking is go :p

[ofdrumsthesound]

At least he doesn't destroy peoples' minds.

[timesbureaucrat]

You should be glad for the chance to do some good for your planet for a change.

[ofdrumsthesound]

Really? Does that mean you're finally admitting that you'd let the Lord President rape you with a broken glass bottle if he said it was for the greater good, then? I've been waiting for ages for you to finally say that aloud!

1/2

[timesbureaucrat]

[The Master's turn of phrase conjures a really quite horrible image.]

2/2

[timesbureaucrat]

I really don't think the Lord President would...

That is, I don't see how the greater good would be served by...

[He awkwardly clears his throat and avoids answering the question.]

[ofdrumsthesound]

They thought it was for the greater good to destroy an 8-year-old's life, mind-rape him, and turn him into a mad killer.

Or is it fine as long as it only happens to other people?

Absolutely! Also ffff, I am not far enough in to know if Narvin is in the CIA by Three's time. :/

[velvetdandy]

No, no of course not. Because obviously assisting temporally stationary civilisations to resolve internal conflict is equivalent to altering the history of a man whose crimes have affected the entire universe! What on Gallifrey possessed you, Narvin? Even you CIA goons must have seen what a dangerous idea this was.

[Oh keep trolling, he can play.]

Yes, it was a pleasant excuse to catch up on my Proust. I recommend it. In fact, why don't you and the entire agency just take the next millennia off, starting right now?

Chronology is hazy, so he very well could be!

[timesbureaucrat]

Assisting civilisations? Is that what you call starting a Dalek civil war? Or destroying a fleet of Ice Warriors?

As much as I'd love the holiday, I have actual responsibilities. I'm sure you remember what those are, as much as you try to avoid them.

[velvetdandy]

Hardly my fault, old chap. Or does the CIA mandate of cowardice in the face of conflict not extend to civilians? I could hardly have acted any other way than I did - not if I wanted to save my own lives, or the ones depending on me.


Oh yes, I recall. The responsibilities you're always foisting off on me. Very dedicated indeed.

I love Three's snark.

[timesbureaucrat]

You could have acted as a proper Time Lord, obeyed our laws, and stayed out of other races' problems.

You call those minor errands responsibilities?

[Narvin does not see the hypocrisy in "stay out of other races' problems" and "drop the Doctor into other races' problems." Because when the CIA does it, it's all right.]

He thrives on snark and sandwiches : ) Also your Narvin is spot-on.

[velvetdandy]

Yes. Yes I suppose I could have. And who would you have scapegoated then, I wonder? Or would it have turned out that those 'minor errands' are worth putting an operative in the field for after all?

[He's just going to smirk, put his hands in his pockets and strooolll along here.]

If it turns out they were in fact of some worth to the CIA, I'd be quite happy to relieve you of my compensation now.