Owl from the Master to the Third Doctor

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

The Master found it harder than expected to compose his note to the Doctor.... the Doctor as he had been so long ago. He could barely recall how it was between them, it was so long ago.

But finally, he produced a letter in an elegant hand.

My dear Doctor,

As we discussed, there is an establishment in this school suitable for a gentleman's relaxation. The enclosed map will direct you there, and no where else. Shall we meet for drinks at seven?

With a sharp pang, he signed his name in Gallifreyan.

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[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor had been exploring the castle, but however it's supposed "magic" worked, he hadn't managed to yet find any mechanism to it. And the paintings kept shouting at him when he tried to take things apart to work it out. Not to mention the lack machinery or electronics to even use as material, let alone what the humans in this time period might call 'advanced'. In fact, he hadn't yet established whether this was in fact even in the 1900s.

It was all rather frustrating, and anything seemed a welcome distraction, even an invite from the Master.

After eying the owl that had brough the message suspiciously, he turned the bit of...parchment, really? And wrote on the other side with a feather pen he'd found earlier.

As I seem to have little choice in staying in this place, I will accept.. He pondered the message, swirling the end of the feather in the air. Did it seem too eager? But then, if he wanted the Master to reveal more about this place, whether it was in fact his creation at all, which claim the Doctor was starting to suspect, or not, it wouldn't do to antagonize him... too much. After some thought, he decided to leave it at that, and signed the missive with a flourish. Not an easy thing to do when one was writing Gallifreyan, and the end result was what his teachers might have called sloppy, but it was the principle of the thing.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

The signature gave him another twinge, and a wave of memories from a simpler time.

Do try to be prompt, he sent in a quick response, and made his way to the Little Green Apple, sliding into one of the plush velvet booths and ordering a Sidecar.

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor snorted as he read the reply, tossing it away. As if he wasn't always prompt.

Now, what to wear. Very important, the right sort of clothes when one was trying to... impress someone, especially someone like the Master. Chuckling inwardly, the Doctor headed towards his Tardis and it's wardrobe, with a new spring to his step.

*

Some time (the Doctor couldn't be expected to hurry with these sort of things) later, the Doctor stepped into the Green Apple, decked out in deep red velvet and a black cape with an old gold satin lining, a flash of colour as he took it off and draped it over the back on the bench in one rakish movement.

"Evening, old boy" he said shortly, before seating himself in the booth.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

In his simple, perfectly tailored bespoke suit, the Master couldn't help giving the Doctor's outfit a covert once-over. Oh, it had been carefully chosen all right, not that the Doctor would admit it, and he held back a grin.

"I see you found the place," he said breezily. "I suppose you could call it the neighborhood bar. For my neighborhood, at least. Yours was a brandy this time around, wasn't it? Or am I getting my memories crossed?"

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Yes, that'd be more to the Brigadier's taste, though I don't see how you'd have known that." the Doctor said drily. "I much prefer a good red wine, myself. Has it really been that long?" he added after a beat, curious despite himself.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"The Brigadier's tastes are of no interest to me," the Master snorted. "But yes, comparatively." He didn't realize the wistfulness in his tone. "You're practically a childhood playmate from my point of view. The nostalgia is a bit disorienting."


The Master was one of her more amusing customers, and La Fee Verte had been listening idly. She sauntered up to their booth with a bottle and a glass. "" she said to the Doctor, setting it down next to the elaborate hookah in the center of the table. ""

"You do know your clientele, my dear," the Master said with a smirk. As she strolled off, the Master leaned in close to the Doctor. "And she takes pride in getting them plastered."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor pursed his lips, a fleeting expression of annoyment. Nostalgia? Childhood playmate? As if he was some unfledged time tot... he'd show him to underestimate him!

He turned to give the hostess a distracted smile and an agreement to her offer, before turning back to the Master. Who hadn't learned anything about personal space since they last met, it seemed.

The Doctor huffed at his comment. "Plastered? My dear fellow, are you implying I cannot hold my spirits?"

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

The Doctor's annoyance at his words was all too clear and it made the Master want to laugh aloud. He was so young, so arrogant, vigorous and free of the guilt and despair of the Time War. Had he really been that young once?

"I'm implying that she's got potions back there that can get anyone squiffy. She talked Rory and I into trying her house blend once. I think we spent the next few hours talking about potatoes."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Master still sounded... cheerful. Worrying sign, that.

"Did you now?" the Doctor commented blandly. "This Rory... I gather he's a friend of mine, from further up the timeline." he remarked offhandedly, trying to sound like that fact wasn't at all unsettling to him. "I'm surprised you two get along so well. Especially without you making him like you," that last might have been a bit of a low blow, but not like it wasn't deserved, right?

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Quite a bit further; further than me, actually." The Doctor was getting prickly over him getting stoned with one of his pets? This was promising. "We have some rather unusual things in common. He's remarkably mentally resilient for a human as well - it makes for interesting conversation."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Yes, well, that's humans for you. I always did say they have hidden depths," The Doctor said self-importantly. Well, he might or might not have said that, but it had surely been implied, at some point.

Then again, on second though, it might not be such a good idea for the Master to start thinking of them as possible equal allies rather than just mindless servants, who knows what he might get up to. Would he have learned enough humility for that?

The Doctor gave him a weighing, concerned look from the corner of his eye, but he really couldn't tell for sure, not with this regeneration. How annoying, he thought as he took a long but civilized sip from the glass that had discreetly appeared at the table.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"After what you put him through, he's barely human," the Master said with a wry chuckle. "Not that I should be telling you about any of that." Although Rory's adventures were the least of what the Doctor shouldn't be hearing about. "But it makes him interesting enough to have a conversation with from time to time."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"I'd... hardly say that," the Doctor protested, though he'd seen the a glimpse of the man's mind himself... but no. "I saw enough to see what strenght of character he has," he said quietly and seriously.

Strange the Master would find that interesting enough to had what almost resembled a friendship at a glance. One would have thought he'd prefer more easily manageable people.

"You'd better not have any plans to hurt that boy," the Doctor added sharply, still worried that might be the case. "I might not know him as well as I'm going to yet, but that won't stop me from protecting him."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

The Master laughed warmly at that. "Do you think I'd waste my time socializing with someone weak? If anything, he'd be protecting you." He looked at the Doctor with nostalgia and a trace of sadness he couldn't quite mask. "It's a much older version of you that he got mixed up with. More to learn from and more enemies."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor pursed his lips slightly, as if tasting something sour. He didn't like the Master's attitude in the least, and more disquietingly, he wasn't entirely certain why.

Perhaps it was the implied condescension, one he couldn't really protest without impugning his future self, and he should hope he'd have learned many new things in the future. That didn't mean it wasn't very irritating in the here and now.

"Well, that's certainly something there never seems to be any shortage off," the Doctor said, voice sharpened by the frustration of not being able to reach all the information available and needed to understand the situation. He was heartily tired of that feeling.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"If you weren't willing to risk a few enemies you'd never have gone renegade," the Master pointed out with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "A peaceful life would bore you senseless."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps," The Doctor said noncommittally. It's not being sure which is which that gets to you, he thought in the privacy of his own head somewhat wistfully.

"No offence old boy, but I can't say this place has provided much in the way of challenges so far, even compared to where I came from," he added somewhat pointedly, leaning back in his seat with an attitude of urbane displeasure, arms crossed.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"And you were so sure it was a sinister trap of mine when you first arrived." The Master sipped his drink. "Have you found the library yet? Gotten a wand? Or are you turning your back on a field of knowledge because you don't understand how it works?"

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor bristled a little at that. "That seemed like the most likely theory on my information then," he replied snippily.

"Whereas this so called "magic"... it's only ever science that isn't fully understood. I'll crack it yet, I'm sure." Not that he'd had much luck so far, but it did seem like something new, so it couldn't be helped if it took him a while.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"At least you aren't trying to deny that it works." He grinned mischievously. "I could levitate you again. Or set something else on fire. Really, how do you expect to crack it if you don't get a wand and learn how it's done? Or are you worried you won't have the knack?" The Master winked.

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

If he found out later the Master had figured it out and just wasn't sharing... then again he'd never been one for thoroughly examining his methods through, as long as they seemed to be working for the moment. Like that one experiment in advanced redox reactions class... the Doctor smirked a little at that memory.

"Oh, I have one." he said casually. In fact, he'd had two, and such a hassle they'd made about him asking for a new one too. As if they expected him not check what was inside it, really.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

That was mildly surprising; he wouldn't have expected that of this Doctor. "Managed to repair your cape yet?" he asked with an impish smirk, to mask any visible surprise.

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor gave him a cool look at the reminder of his mangled cape.

"I had a spare, thank you," his tone said the Master shouldn't think that meant he was forgiven. There was a moment's silence, while the Doctor was by no means doing anything like pouting, before he got distracted thinking about the aforementioned wands.

"It really does appear as if those things are made of wood, and whatever supposedly organic material the core happens to be made of it," he pondered aloud. "I suppose that could be the key to it. Braneotally charged tissue, perhaps, would hardly be the first time I've come across that..."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"You worry too much, my dear Doctor." He smiled, the warm grin that won him so many votes. "Does it matter, in the end, if it's magic or technology? Enjoy your wine." He savored his own drink. "I'm surprised you haven't tried to get any information from me. Am I the responsible one now?"

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Does it matter?" The Doctor exclaimed "My good man, have you no scientific intergrity-- No, of course you wouldn't, but, aren't you even curious about it? You've just been waving these--" and here he unconsciously pulled out his wand and waved it around for emphasis "--around without even trying to find out how they actually work?"

He shook his head, as if this was a truly disheartening disappointment.

"Oh, I knew your methods were lax, but this..."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Listen to you fret. Have you tried out a broom yet? Lovely view of the stars with no pesky engine noise. It's like a hot air balloon crossed with a motorbike." The Master crossed his arms, still smirking. "You need serious relaxation time."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor gave him a dubious look.

"You really think I'll get on a flying stick, with you of all people?" he asked haughtily. "You'd probably just drop me again."

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Why Doctor, should I be flattered? I don't recall suggesting riding double, although it's nice to know you're perceptive enough to guess I'd be up for it."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Certainly not!" The Doctor snapped.

"Very well, we can see... next thursday, shall we say. Perhaps a bit of a gentlemanly competition, what do you say?" he continued before he had time to think better of it. He'd wipe that grin off the Master's face if it was the last thing he did. Which it well might...

The Doctor grabbed his wineglass and drank nonchalantly, trying not to think about how on earth a seemingly normal stick of wood would stay in the air. He'd just have to trust it would, this once. And it couldn't be that hard to learn, either.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure that's enough time for you to find a tutor?" He chuckled, trying not to think about how a much younger Doctor, younger even than the one now before him, would have loved flying, and what it would have been like to see his face as he discovered it.

"Next Thursday, then, if you'd care to make a competition of it. Did you have stakes in mind?"

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor let himself be preoccupied by another mouthful of wine, savoured this time as he thought of a reply.

What had possessed him to suggest a competition, of course the Master would make it into a bet... being stuck in a school of all things was clearly making them both unnecessarily nostalgic. Which, if this was back then...

The Doctor shook his head minutely to cast away such antiquated thoughts.

"How about truth? If I win, you'll have to tell me... ah, no, let's make it a truth of my own choosing. Think you could manage that much?" he asked with a slight edge.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Ahhhhh, that is interesting." He leaned closer. "I take it you'd agree to the same terms?"

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Certainly, I have nothing to hide," The Doctor replied brashly as if the things the Master might ask didn't concern him in the least. Well, he... probably didn't.

There was a somewhat stretched silence, during which the Doctor drank some more wine, which was excellent for dispelling any feelings of awkwardness he might have otherwise felt.

"I spoke to this fellow Rory earlier, whily waiting for that hat to make up it's mind," he said finally. "Seems like a nice young man... companion of a future regeneration, apparently. Don't suppose you've met that one?" he said, swilling the remaining wine in his glass idly.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Interesting question. Idle conversation, or something deeper? The Master took a sip before answering.

"On a few occasions, here. Not as well as I knew his predecessor. Don't worry, Doctor, you're still a priority."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Hmph. As if that's supposed to be reassuring..." the Doctor muttered under his breath, though mostly thinking about 'predecessor'. At least two more regenerations forward... for what that was worth, which wasn't much, really.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Doctor. Do you really expect reassurance from me? Or that I'd expect you to believe it? I think we know each other better than that."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor huffed. "Indeed," he agreed.

And yet, comparing this Master with h-- the one he knew in his time, he seemed somehow so much... older. He'd almost say more cynical, if that wasn't laughable... though, he had a unpleasant feeling this Master wouldn't be fooled as easily. Well, about time he'd learned, he supposed.

The corner's of the Doctor's mouth turned subtly downwards as he took in his old enemy. How wretched it could be, being confronted with the familiar, but twisted out of recognition, like that wretched alternate earth he'd been trying not to think about...

He turned away abruptly, turning his displeased gaze onto a rather large plant lurking in the shadows in one corner instead. Did it just move slightly?

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Now, now, does that mean you can't be civil? We're having a pleasant evening, made a gentleman's wager, and now you have an excuse to play with those silly little brooms, which can get to quite remarkable speeds, especially the deluxe models."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"Yes yes, I'm sure they do..." The Doctor replied distractedly, his eyes wandering around the room as if looking for a way out. Or a distraction.

Well. There was always the Master himself, a part of his mind piped up.

The Doctor's attention snapped back to him, almost considering.

"Are you sure, thought? I seem to recall you weren't overly succesful in the vortisaur race back in the day?" he reminded, eyes glinting in the low light, a slightly vicious smile tugging at the edges of his mouth.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Oh, but I have the advantage of familiarity over you here." That wicked smile captured his attention like a neon sign, and he had to force himself not to stare. Oh, that viciousness had suited him so well, it had been so tempting in those days to do all he could to bring it out... "And I've always been keen on... pressing any advantage."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor chuckled. "Oh yes, I remember that. Would keep on till you found something you were better in..." theoretical engineering had been one of his worse defeats, because he'd been so sure he could get a better grade than Koschei.

"Bit funny, though, that you didn't dare 'press your advantage' without the excuse of winning a bet, though," he teased. Usually he wouldn't actually be so incautious as to mention their first kiss so cavalierly, but the strange situation and several glasses of wine had blurred the lines sufficiently.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was unfair. Bad enough to have one devious young Doctor in front of him without such head-spinning reminders of an even more distant and less fraught past.

"I had to figure out the rules before I could know the best ways to break them, after all," he purred, trying to sound seductive and not utterly gobsmacked by nostalgia. "It's not like either of us is who we were then."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

"No, hardly," the Doctor agreed, eyeing the Master, still with some waryness.

He felt restless, caught in this new trap with even less distraction from the chafe of it than UNIT could offer.

"You're not even like you are in my time, are you?" he asked rhetorically, some of the inner tension coming out in his voice, and the restless swinging of one leg, crossed over the other. No good, showing agitation to the Master, let alone this one, so he forced himself still, to appear unconcerned. "Why, I'm 'then' to you as well, aren't I?

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Very much a 'then'," he agreed, looking the Doctor up and down. "Whereas I am more jaded and wicked, and far less concerned about the niceties of timelines."

[science-advice.livejournal.com]

The Doctor snorted. "Niceties, hah! It's not like you've told me anything so far..." he muttered, with an expression that might have been characterized a pout.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

The Master scowled at his drink in return. "There's a lot I can't tell you, you know. Or shouldn't, even by my standards. Are you fussing over lack of a bedtime story about our adventures to come? I promise, they're full of examples of your reckless heroism."