Open RP - The Master returns

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

((with the approval of the other Who muns))

He was...

He was in a slick heap on the floor, the smell of butter the first thing he consciously aware of. The smell. It was impossibly silent, an undreamed-of silence.

The Master, looking distinctly unmasterful in ragged, butter-drenched clothes, dragged himself from the room, pulling himself upright on the doorframe.

Silent, but for his breathing, and the butter dripping from him to the floor. His mouth felt greasy, and he spat to clear it. If only he could do the same to his mind! It was too quiet to think. He staggered into the hall.

He was...

He was alive. And that was all the starting point he'd ever needed.

The Master's laughter echoed down the stony corridor, echoing, folding in on itself. He was alive.

Comments

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"Oh great. A nutcase. Like Hogwarts doesn't have enough of those."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Well, he certainly looked the part, and the butter wasn't helping any.

And speaking of looking the part, wasn't this one of the Doctor's little pets? Was he here too?

"Oh, that's hardly fair," he said with the pout he knew worked so well on this face. It'd actually been why he'd skipped the beard now and then. "Isn't laughter supposed to be the best medicine?"

[vislor-turlough.livejournal.com]

"That's a load of Earthling bull. Laughter doesn't do anything."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, but the world is so funny. Don't you think it's funny?"

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

...okay, in Rory's professional opinion, hysterical laughter like that was a bad sign. On the other hand, it couldn't be easy to make a psychological adjustment from being a piece of popcorn.

He paused what he hoped was a safe distance away, and, because there weren't that many good questions at a time like this, asked, "Er - are you all right, mate?"

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

That was a good question. The Master felt far better than he had in his most recent memories. But his head was ringing from the haunting quiet.

"I'm a bit greasy," he said with the self-deprecating smile that had served him so well.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory nodded. "You are a bit. I think there are bathrooms near here." Unless they've moved... "First things first, though, do you remember where you are?"

[eleventyrags.livejournal.com]

He knew - he he knew so well - that laughter. The Doctor could hear it echoing not only in his ears but in his head, his hearts, right down to his very bones. It was at a full run that he came careening down the hall to the popcorn room, fast enough to endanger even his bowtie from flying off. It was still at a run that he jumped into the air and landed on the master, arms and legs clinging in the most absurd and embarrassing koala hug ever witnessed by any of the timeless eyes of the universe.

But really, who could blame him? There he was, the Master, all better after everything and returned so they could finally start the right way, so the Doctor could slice away all that dreadful insanity and show him the beautiful things in the universe he so longed to share.

So overwhelming was the emotion that the Doctor could only manage a kind of giggly whimper as he clung to his buttered fellow Gallifreyan.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Recognition only took a moment, although he'd been expecting the blond one. So, the Doctor had changed his face again. And with it, he'd apparently gotten rather huggy.

"As pre-emptive strikes go, that's unorthodox even for you," he murmured. "Or is this some primitive means of checking for weapons?"

[eleventyrags.livejournal.com]

There was a brief moment of debate where The Doctor had to decide whether or not to let go, but his emotions won out and he continued the hugging. Of course he knew he looked like an idiot, but really, it was hard to curb his excitement, especially here and now.

"New body," he said by way of excuse. "Still getting used to telling which limb to do what."

[fantastic-nine.livejournal.com]

"It's a bit disorienting, coming back." He was leaning against the wall, his posture casual but his eyes carefully guarded. "Of course, I still haven't figured out what the butter is all about."

He had survived the Time War. If anyone would, of course it would be him.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Oh, now this was just ganging up on him. Not sporting at all. And still not the blond one. No need to dissemble, at least.

"You mean it's not just a primitive Earth custom?"

[fantastic-nine.livejournal.com]

He shook his head. "Not exactly. Thankfully it only seems to be a custom here."

"So how much do you remember?"

[arrogantmage.livejournal.com]

Could it be? Was that ...

... yes, it must be ...

... the unmistakeable sound of villainous laughter? Possibly, ever so slightly, a bit unhinged, and definitely chock full of joie de vivre? A zest, a veritable zeal, for nefarious doings and schemes aplenty?

SURELY IT WAS SO!

Lezard began to laugh his own crazy laugh (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBhksfGFiQ8). Howling and cackling to wake the dead, he floated toward the source of the other laughter, and found it near the popcorn room.

"Why, hello there!"

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Ah, a confident man. Good to see. Potentially useful, just a matter of finding the right leverage.

"Hello," he said in his most charming Prime Ministerial fashion. "You look like someone who knows how things might work around here."

[arrogantmage.livejournal.com]

There were many things Lezard lacked. Confidence was certainly not one of them. A wardrobe less suited to a Renaissance Faire was another. He beamed beatifically, and bowed to the appropriate depth to show courtesy without implication of servility or inferior status. (The appropriate depth by the standards of the royal court of Dipan, that was. Lezard had not much opportunity to grace any other.)

"I have the privilege and delight of being Lezard Valeth. As such, it is often true that I know how things work, in many places." Except when he was catastrophically mistaken, hampered by hubris, or ... dealing with women. "How rare to make the acquaintance of a gentleman so perceptive. Are you here for business or pleasure?"

[raistlin-black.livejournal.com]

Power positively hummed off the man who emerged from the popcorn room, leaving a trail of butter in his wake. He looked a wreck, but Raistlin recognized power.. and perhaps a like mind.

"Is it the butter or the return that you find amusing?"

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"I could do without the butter." Of course, the clothes he was wearing had been a lost cause to begin with. "But really, why not laugh? Especially when things are looking up."

[raistlin-black.livejournal.com]

His odd, hourglass shaped eyes gleamed as he raised one gold skinned hand. "It is an odd tradition to slather you in butter upon your return to this place. No matter. Hold very still. Perhaps your day will improve further and I can rid you of the mess."

[ilikethemdead.livejournal.com]

Finding it prudent to keep an eye on the new flesh, Karasu was in the hallway when the butter soaked man stumbled out. He tilted his head a little, wondering at the cruelty in his eyes. Interesting.

"Tell me what you find so amusing..." It wasn't quite a question, more of a demand.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Now here was a pretty sight. There was bound to be a reason for the mask, and the Master dearly hoped it wasn't a dull one. He'd have to find out.

"What isn't amusing? Or has the cosmos never let you in on the joke?"

[ilikethemdead.livejournal.com]

"I tend to make my own," he said blandly. His eyes narrowed a little, laughter in them.

He slipped his hands into his pockets and raised his chin a little, looking down at the (as far as he could tell) human. "I only ask because you sound like a cat that just ate a pretty little canary."

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

The laughter should have encouraged them to turn around, but Sakon was curious about this place and Ukon wasn't likely to shy away from anything strange. Seeing someone covered in...oil?...was very strange though. "Sakon, why is that man prepared to be fried?" Ukon asked, pointing.

"Hush, Ukon," Sakon said, his cheeks coloring in embarrassment. He swallowed. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

"How could he be?" Ukon demanded. "He's going to be food."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

He couldn't help it. The Master dissolved into more laughter, although this time it was less of a cackle and more a demented giggle.

"Oh, I don't think I'd be very palatable."

[ukon-sakon.livejournal.com]

Ukon looked over his shoulder at Sakon and then back at the man. "I doubt it," he said, managing to make his tone wry. "But, you'd be better than me," he added, pointing to himself.

"I don't think they make a habit of actually eating people here," Sakon said uncertainly.