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[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

...is there any particular reason I awoke this morning with a cheetah beside me and the Doctor nowhere to be seen?

More to the matter: why are they calling me 'Master?'

Comments

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

...Hm. You don't happen to recall wandering off to the Cheetah Planet, do you?

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

[have a scathing look, Doctor] I cannot 'wander,' as you well know. And I've never been to the Cheetah Planet. Wasn't that the world where the Master died in your Seventh?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

That's the one. Sounds like you're on it. Savannah-ish leaning towards desert? May or may not be exploding in some areas?

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

That...yes. That is it exactly. That does not explain why I am here and you are not. I can deal without the annoying Charlotte, but you, Doctor...I dislike being around these Cheetah People. Especially the one who kept nuzzling me earlier.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[snorts] Erm, sorry, 's not funny, really, just... I took a nap earlier and now I'm not on the planet I was, either. It's a bit deserty, actually. Has these nifty sandships, though! And there's this lovely fruit I tried earlier and no one seemed to mind that I took it and- [coughs] Right, uhm, hm, this could be the Master's doing, then?

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

[narrows her eyes] Do you honestly believe this is something he's capable of? If so, he will regret leaving me with his...pets. But sandships? Made by what race?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[pauses, then shakes his head] Nah, not quite his style, I think. Complicated enough, though. Be careful with them. At least they think you're the Master, so you've got some leeway. They shouldn't treat you badly.

[and then beams] I dunno yet! I ask what race and they say, "Well I'm not a Beastman, now am I?" Seems to be a bit primitive here, though.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

I don't intend on needing to be careful around them, Doctor. I do intend on giving the Master a rather...surprising...welcoming party when he returns and I'm allowed back with you.

Beastman? How very strange. The world is hospitable, though?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

I suppose that's his loss, then. As long as you're not in danger, all right? [worrywart over his TARDIS, yes]

I haven't seen any yet myself, but I only wandering around the docks for a bit. It isn't too bad. Seems like a nice enough place. I overheard someone mentioning a cult, though. I'll have to look into that.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

I'll be fine, Doctor. You need not worry about me.

[frowns at the thought of him looking into a cult, though] You must be careful. I know you enjoy running into trouble, but you do not have me there to protect you when it gets bad. [moves a little closer to him] What type of cult was it?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

All right, old girl.

[smiles] Nah, I'll be fine, trust me. [puffs out his cheeks and exhales] Weeeell, apparently it's not quite a cult. Or at least there's rumours that it's one.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

[smiles brightly and strokes his cheek affectionately]

And you wish to discover whether or not the rumours are true?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[grins] Well, I should see for myself, shouldn't I?

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

...Oh dear.

I only hope this...switch isn't direct, or else I'm wandering around inside the Master at the moment.

Well, one of me. It doesn't bode well regardless.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

[is horrified at the very thought] Do you know what caused this? Is there any way to reverse the effects? If the Master is somehow me, I...!

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[he steps forward, touching her shoulder lightly]

I don't know, but I mean to find out. I'm certain we can put things right again.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

[nods, comforted by his touch, and steps a little closer, looking him over] Have you found yourself trapped within a different reality as well, then, Doctor?

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[he smiles, slightly, and shakes his head]

No, fortunately, but I'm sure enough havoc is being wreaked for me to be getting on with.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I am glad of that. Your Tenth is trapped on a desert planet without me, and I on the Cheetah Planet without him. At least you and my self that is with you are not parted.

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[the smile widens, warms]

Yes. To have a reality between us...I'd rather not contemplate it.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

It is quite horrendous, I assure you. Though your own reality...it seems different than what I remember. You never wore black, not in your Fifth. A different time stream?

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[a slight nod]

I appear to be from a different...divergence than the rest - the Master was the first to note it. The younger one, I mean.

In my reality, he's still Koschei.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

It is the younger Master's reality I appear to be trapped in now, I note. I do so hope he likes the way I leave it for him.

[raises an eyebrow, surprised] Is that so? [actually smiles!] Koschei...I remember him fondly. The two of you, doing everything together, playing hide-and-seek inside me after sneaking into the holding deck. I am...glad...for you, Doctor, that you did not have to see the monster he becomes. I suspect our travels lack a certain amount of entertainment without him destroying peoples and planets, then?

[miseardae.livejournal.com]

[with a mischievous glint in his eyes]

And how do you plan on leaving it?

[it fades, and he smiles, rather sadly]

I don't like seeing him like this - isolated, mad, a murderer. He can be good company all the same, but this isn't who he should have been.

Koschei does tend to interfere, though - we want the same things, really, but we don't always...agree on how to go about it.

[brigadiertardis.livejournal.com]

I'll think of something, surely. [hadn't honestly thought about it, sadly] In the meantime, I'll use this to my advantage. When he returns, his precious cheetah won't be as...loyal.

[frowns] There are a great many things that have happened in your lifetime that shouldn't have, Doctor. But...what do you mean, he interferes? Koschei was not one to hurt others, not from what I remember. I should think he'd be helping you.