[RP for Ten and the Master]

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

He should be happy. Should be over the moon, as it were. But of course their conversation had taken an uncomfortable turn, and the Doctor had breezed off. So very typical of him.

But he wasn't going to let that keep him from doing the things he wanted to do. And as it was fairly early in the morning, that was helping himself to coffee and danishes that he had personally seen the house elves set out




[ETA: NSFW!]

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[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

the Doctor arrived shortly after, looking around the hall before heading towards the table. The food here smelled amazing. He'd always loved Earth food, but this place... This was especially wonderful. He launched himself right for aplate of croissants without noticing the Master's there.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

The Master was more observant of his surroundings, mainly because of the likelihood of 'chance' encounters like this one. He struggled with conflicting impulses before standing and walking over with his mug of coffee in hand. Nothing wrong with getting himself a croissant. And it was good cover.

"You should be careful taking food that's left out unless you know who put it there." Only fair to warn him.

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

He doesn't look up right away. "House elves right? jack told me about them." He took a bite and turned to face the Master.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"They lay out the meals, or bring you anything you request, within their capabilities." He managed not to grind his teeth at the mention of Jack, which he really felt should be rewarded. "But sometimes you'll see food, usually chocolate, left out randomly. Be careful, it's usually hexed." He bit into his own croissant. "I saw these being brought out."

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

"Well good. I'll keep that in mind." He looked down at his croissant and then towards the ceiling. "Well I'd hate to keep you."The Doctor smiled. "I'd hate for you to feel trapped." And he started to walk off again.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Now, that's hardly fair. Usually I have to start killing people to get your attention, but no-one can die here." He glared into his coffee, debating throwing the mug to the floor in anger. "And you wonder why I doubt you. You're wonderful at sweet-talk when you want something, but you can't get away fast enough when you don't. I don't have the energy for your little snits, Doctor. I have a brain to repair, or had you forgotten?"

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

"And I'll still help master, but what did I want from you before?" He spun back looking angry again, hurt. "I was just happy to see you. I was. i really was. And you just..." He threw up an arm. "I don't want to fight. But you just keep pushing me away. And I get it, after all those centuries I get it. But I thought I'd made it clear, really clear that you were important to me. Do you know what it was like? Losing you twice? And that last time because..."

The Doctor stopped and dropped his hand, glaring at the croissant. "I didn't want you there because you were the last. I wanted you there because it was you and the fact that of everyone, that you had survived.... And you just didn't get it. Which is fine I mean... I never said. And why am I still even talking?" He chuckled a bit. "All i seem to do isn't it?"

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Hardly fair to say I keep pushing you away. Gave you a taste of your own medicine once, maybe. Doesn't seem to be sitting well." But at least the Doctor was talking to him and not walking away again, so he took another sip of coffee instead of throwing the mug. "But we've done that bit. Done your grandiose invitation, too, and I won't even accuse you of not meaning it, because that's pointless. You're the one who keeps walking away. Even right now. Exactly how do you expect me to respond to that?"

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

"I don't know what you want! I know you want me to help you get better. Fine, I'll do that. But is that all? Once you're better you'll just go off again."

He felt foolish, stupid. He'd essentially just admitted that the Master was the most important thing in his life and the Master haven't even batted an eye.

"I think it'ssafe to say we're not the same people we used to be."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

He stepped closer, watching the Doctor quizzically. The accusations were... odd. He set his mug and croissant on one of the long tables and moved closer, blithely ignoring the idea of personal space until he was easily within arms' reach.

"I don't know where you're getting this. I've been reaching out to you for centuries. I'm not about to give up now. You won't remember, of course, but I've let you into my head. Not a very easy thing for me these days. Not something I could force myself to do for anyone else. I've watched for you. Didn't allow myself to think you'd be back. Kept watching anyway. And now you say I'm pushing you away." He laughed bitterly.

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

The Doctor's eyes widened. The Master had let him inside of his head?

"But it didn't help? I couldn't find the root?" He doesn't bother pointing out to the master that he'd turned him down twice this incarnation. He'd died to avoid being trapped with him as if it was the worst thing he could imagine. It didn't matter now. The were still fighting.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it's gone. I even stopped my hearts for long enough to be sure they weren't masking anything. But taking off the copper wire won't make a bonsai grow straight. There are echoes, and the silence, nothing could be louder than the silence..." He was shivering now, and if he Doctor wasn't being so damned difficult he'd have clung to him for comfort. "Not to mention sorting through all my memories, trying to figure out how influenced I might have been."

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

"Influenced? "The Doctor looked alarmed and stepped towards him. "I didn't... I wouldn't have..." Well he might. But certainly not without permission.

"The emptiness must be maddening."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"It's like walking out of a loud concert." He ignored his sour anger, and reached out to rest his hand on the Doctor's waist, silently urging him closer. "I'm not sure if there's a way to fix that. But I have all this patching up... have you ever seen a tree grown around a chain-link fence? It's messy when you tear the fence away."

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

He nodded at that. The analogy made sense. Raw and painful, but effective.

"Not impossible though." He tried another smile and didn't remove the Master's hand, taking a large bite of his croissant. "If you wait long enough bark will grow over the scars."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"It's rather a frustrating thing to wait out. I've been working on it, clearing away the debris, but I can only make real progress on conscious levels." He looked tired, too aggravated to bother with false cheer. "I'm a bit less than keen to have anyone mucking about that deep in my head."

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

"Then I won't" the Doctor assured. "Whatever you want, just so long as your ready."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"That's the problem." He smiled crookedly. "Where do you think the dust settles? To continue the metaphor."

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

The Doctor ran a hand through his hair, frowning. He didn't know what was left for him to say.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"The problem is," the Master said, moving closer, "I really don't like the idea of having my mind toyed with. It's triggery, to use the current Earth buzzword. It would take rather a lot of trust for me to allow it now that it's not a matter of pressing urgency."

He brushed a hand against the Doctor's cheek, letting it fall to rest on his shoulder. "We'd have to work at building trust."

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

The Doctor looked dubious at first, clenching visibly at the idea of letting someone inside his head. He'd even felt invaded when Reinette, who ha no experience or intention of seeing inside his thoughts had caught a glimpse past what he allowed others to know. To allow the master that level of control, especially with his experience.... But it was a compromise. And if he wanted the Master to trust him....

"Always did love trust building exercises."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"I'd have to get used to your physical presence first." He smiled slowly, debated a wink and decided against it. "We'd have to spend time together. A good deal of it. I'm glad my bed's got room for two."

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

At the rate the Master was going a wink would not have surprised him.

"You're joking. Aren't you? ...You're not."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Do you have a better suggestion? Is it such a dreadful thought?" He flashed a confident smile, covering up his frustration and anxiety. "Was it better when you thought I was running?"

[tenofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

The flush of red crawling up the Doctor's neck to his ears was sign enough that there's something appealing in that offer whether he admitted to it or not.