Twisting the Knife ((closed RP, Jack Harkness, the Master))

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

Jack wanted revenge. The psychopathic, giggling maniac that had tortured him, killing him in increasingly inventive and horrible ways for an entire year was alive and within his reach. It wouldn’t take much to track the Master down and beat him to death, or at least into a very satisfying coma, but he was inclined towards something a little more creative.

 

The Doctor would disapprove. Hell, he’d be furious.

The Master’s reaction.. that would make it all worthwhile.

 

Jack was a quick study and had been reading up on the requirements and components for a good polyjuice potion. A few hairs nicked from the Doctor and he was ready to go. He had even been studying a charm to try and mask his rather odd time signature. It wouldn’t hold out for long, but maybe it would last just long enough.

 

A shorter, more slender man with dark hair in mad, askew spikes began walking the halls, brown trench coat flapping behind him, and an affable smile on his face. Halfway down the hall, he began to whistle.

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[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

The one problem with maintaining a workroom an obfuscatory distance from his room was the need to go back and forth between the two. He had been able to ascertain half a dozen different possible routes so far, and was tracing out a possible seventh when he was stopped in his tracks by the sudden intense feeling of presence, the unmistakable nearness of another Time Lord. There was also, disturbingly, something strange about the presence he was sensing. Familiar-and-not, and it seemed to be reminding him of multiple things at once. He'd quickened his step to get to the source of that call, turned a corner and...

No. It wasn't. He wasn't here. He'd have noticed if he'd emerged from the popcorn room (for oh yes, the Master kept a close eye on some of the names there).

Words temporarily failed him, and he stared in shock.

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

Jack had been hoping he'd get lucky and there he was. Standing at a corner, staring at him in open shock.

That's it, you bastard. Get a good long look.

He gave a crooked smile, one he knew so well. "There you are. Butter.. absolute mess to get out of a coat. Humans and their food.."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Not, it's not, he would have known, and how could he have any doubt over whether he was looking at the Doctor or not? And that maddening otherness, that seemed to be squirming from him as if behind a perception filter.

The last time he'd seen the Doctor, this Doctor, he'd had broken glass in his hair and all the desperate rage and sorrow of the universe in his eyes.

Isn't-isn't-can't-be, and yet... oh, if only, and he shivered at the unwanted surge of naked longing he felt.

"It's not working, whoever you are," he snapped, sounding more shaken than he'd like.

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

He shoved his hands in the pockets of his coat and closed the distance between them. The charm might not last long and he wanted to relish every moment of confusion, pain and desire.

"What isn't working?" he asked, blinking owlishly behind the thick rimmed glasses he wore. "Honestly, I just get back and that's all you have to say?"

Yes. Stammer and stutter and stare and want what you can't have. Hurtyou bastard.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Oh, he even smelled right. If the Master hadn't been warned anonymously that there was at least one person with a fondness for abusing shapeshifting magic. Even knowing, he didn't pull away; the memories of their latest meetings were so close, so raw, and it could have ended so very differently.

"The body language isn't a bad imitation," he said. "You've watched him. You've watched him in this regeneration. You'd probably be able to convince a human."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

Jack tilted his head a fraction and removed the glasses. He flooded his mind with painful memories; Ianto, Tosh, Owen, he had buried and lost so much. Jack let that pain and weariness fill his eyes. The Doctor's eyes were always so expressive.

"But don't you want it to be? To listen to me rage and plead with you? To tell you how tired I've become?" He whispered the question, almost lovingly.

Show me your need. Show me how much you want him.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

So wonderfully seductive. This was no mere tactical effort, it was deeply personal.

Not a huge list of suspects, really. Unless someone was surprising him... well. Proceed-as-if and make the most of all opportunities.

"Maybe I should explain, since you seem so invested. I could let you feel it all. I could let you taste it, what I want. Oh, Doctor, we have unfinished business, and we always will. I don't need a cheap imitation to remind me."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

Jack laghed, spreading his arms wide. "Cheap? How you wound me. This sort of magic isn't exactly for novices. And here I thought you'd appreciate the effort."

He dropped his arms, "And it's not always about what I want, is it? You want him back, I can smell the need on you."

And how you'll howl when you find out who's wearing your precious Doctor. How you will rage.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it's a perfect physical likeness." He raised a hand to mockingly caress that lovely counterfeit face. "It's clear that you really care about this charade. So it's not really about what you think my needs are at all, is it?"

And it was funny, it really was, so the Master wasn't too surprised to realize that he was laughing as he studied the impostor's eyes.

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

He hooked an arm around the Master, pulling him close. Jack laughed and put his lips near the Master's ear. "Always thinking of others aren't you? I know how much you do enjoy these little games."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, but that's just it," he purred. "Other people are how I keep score. It's always been that way." He didn't shy away from the proximity, letting himself dwell on all-too-recent memories. "But, ah, Doctor, if it were really you, I wouldn't have to explain, and you'd remember that very moment."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

Jack grinned wolfishly, a very un-Doctor sort of smile, "You always did pride yourself on a high body count. And there have been so many wonderful shared moments. Bloody, violent moments, you cherished them so much. Remember?"

The contact was distasteful, but it would be worth it so very soon.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Well, that was a dead giveaway. There were only so many people with so much motive, knowledge, and drive.

"Oh, Doctor," he said mockingly, "Not those little games. You were trying so hard to seduce me. All those beautiful promises. Shall I show this little upstart, Doctor? After all, if he wants to wear your face, he should understand."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

So you think you know who I am? The only time you got this up close and personal was when you had something sharp in your hands. When you’d cut and stab and whisper in my ear what a freak I was and you all but bathed in my blood.

“I’ve always been your favorite audience,” he murmured. His tounge darted out, just grazing the tip of his ear.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

That was a little too much and the Master jerked his head back, scowling.

"Doctor," he said reproachfully, "Your surrogate here is slipping. But that's only to be expected. He's used to how much you like an audience. He doesn't have the context for a more intimate conversation." He was furious, but the most obvious outward sign of it was the way his speech quickened. "Even the things he thinks he understands. If I told him, Doctor..."

The Master stared directly into those dark eyes now, such perfect copies, every physical cue screaming, egging him on, mocking him.

"If I told him, Doctor, what a very good job you'd been doing of convincing me to fall in love with you all over again, he'd probably have a distorted view of what that meant. The things you said, Doctor, finally not trying to argue morality but just trying to persuade me that seeing the universe through your eyes would be conquest enough. How very much I wanted you right then. I wouldn't have untied you, of course, but it would have been so very simple to just ride you like a stolen horse while you promised me such wonders. For five minutes we could have let ourselves believe it could actually be that way. And nothing would have changed, but oh, Doctor, wouldn't you have loved those five minutes?"

He wouldn't let himself look away. Anything this fraud did or said next would only do further damage to his futile masquerade.

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

Now he was starting to enjoy himself. Jack had been a victim of the Master's furious tirades long enough to recognize the signs of his increasing anger. It was only with a monumental effort that he suppressed a surge of jealousy. He could have loved the Doctor far better than the Master ever could.

Jack pulled back, a thin smile on his borrowed face. "Oh yes. I know precisely what it means tobe lost in those five minutes. When you whisper promises and lies that will change nothing - but you let yourself believe the lie. For five mintues that lie is truth and it is glorious. And what is it you would show me, I wonder."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. How long did you think it would take me to figure it out, Freak?

"Idiot. How convincing do you think you're being? Every word out of your mouth, every gesture, you keep going farther afield. But you never did understand our little games, and you'd never want to face what's underneath them."

Stupid, oh so stupid and human. Trying to mindgame him.

"I showed him so many things. You were just a bit of stage-dressing. Of course, when it comes to the things he wanted to show me..."

He let himself feel it again for a moment, basked in the presence of that stolen form.

"Really, Jack, if you were less of a whore you might realize that it's harder than that to fake intimacy."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

Jack laughed mockingly. It was just as well, he could feel the potion beginning to wear off. "Oh I know all about what he could show a man. Did you ever feel this body wrapped around you? It was spectacular," he lied smoothly. "One of the best I ever had."

"Lucy wasn't bad either," he added. Two lies could be more fun anyway.

Jack grunted as the potion lost its effect an hisform began to revert.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, now you're just being ridiculous, and proving how much you don't get it. If all it was about was rutting I'd have been bored long ago. And Lucy? There's grasping at straws and then there's just shooting yourself in the foot. Imagine, if any of you had actually paid her a bit of attention."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

"Oh then please, do enlighten me. If there was one thing you enjoyed, it was hearing yourself talk. It might be a little different for you without your knives, torches ando other toys, but you can probably muddle through."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"What precisely was your aim with that little masquerade, Freak? Honestly, it's like a little boy who doesn't understand that Mummy and Daddy's relationship doesn't begin and end with him. Did you think you were going to learn something? Did you think it might help you understand how very peripheral you are?" So much easier now, laughing at a face that inspired little more than contempt. "I'm sorry to have to keep telling you this, Jack, but I'm just not that into you."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

"You mean you haven't worked that out? Really? " Jack smirked. "Do I need to point out the obvious to the Time Lord? Some evil mastermind."

His fingers quietly tapped out a very familiar four-beat rhythm against his leg.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, don't tell me you were hoping for some tawdry mutual violation. I'm sure sexualizing everything is a wonderful coping mechanism for you, but I'm under no obligation to play along." He grinned, not bothering to pull away. "It would have made things so much easier for you, wouldn't it?"

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

"Mingling a little pain with sex can be much more fun," he admitted. "But if I wanted to get in your pants, I think I could be more inventive than a polyjuice illusion."

The touch was making his skin crawl, but he smiled and kept those thoughts buired deep.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"You're not 'getting in my pants'," the Master said, rolling his eyes. "If you want a bit of vicious hatesex to clear your head, go pick a fight with someone else. And really, you should be at least a little glad. Every time we were whiling away a few happy hours together, I could have been torturing someone else to a painful death. All those lives you saved." He giggled, licking his lips. "And your kidneys were perfect for juggling. I'd never quite gotten the hang of it before. The balance was just right."

[captian-smexy.livejournal.com]

"You were able to juggle because I showed you your timing sucked and you kept breaking your wrists. And now you really are mistaking me for him. I'm no saint and I sure as hell am no martyr."

He spun the Master away from him in a graceful move. "But I got what I wanted. And it's a good start."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Exactly what the Freak thought he'd achieved, the Master wasn't going to humor him by asking. He fixed Jack with a blistering glare instead, folding his arms tightly.