Constellation 05

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur appears on the Plane, looking very different to how he usually dresses. His hair is parted to the side, and his glasses have been replaced with thick, coke-bottle lenses. He's wearing a stripped polo shirt, a  fleece vest, and khaki pants.

There's also an inhaler in his hand, and he seems at quite a loss as to what to do with it.] This is....unusual.

Comments

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[amused at that, the Master briefly scans Arthur's eyes, then raises an eyebrow]

If it's any consolation, you've not suddenly gone blind. Well, you have, but it's not your blindness. Not your body. This is the body of another man. I don't think he's that much younger than you, though. Time change doesn't feel particularly relevant. A year or two at most.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, did you just say this isn't my body?

[a pause] May I have my glasses back now, please?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes I did!

[he frowns, as if considering - not that Arthur can really see and then says, firmly] No, I don't think so. I'll keep them.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[He's torn on what to focus on now] So who's is it?

And I can't see without those, at all. My old glasses would be no good, even if I found them.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

How am I supposed to know? Bodyswaps going on all over the place. I think you'll be better off without your glasses. I'm sure your vulnerability will endear you to some poor sop.

Or you'll fall victim to a less pleasant resident.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

But I enjoy being able to see. What's the point in taking my glasses?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

My amusement.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[.....he really, really dislikes it when the conversations take a turn in this particular direction]

Nothing I could do to persuade you to give them back?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

You would have to fight me for them.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I don't fight. And I'm pretty sure I'd lose, regardless.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd handicap myself to give you a fair go at it.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I'm not fighting you for my glasses.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Then you will be walking blind.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[nods and sighs, reaching up to cover his eyes and mumbling] Maybe the Doctor will let me tag along with him.

Then I'll have a vague sense of direction.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Or you could hit me. I'd let you take them back.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I won't hit you for my glasses, or any other reason at all.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Why ever not? Because your beliefs say that violence is not the answer?

What if it wasn't your glasses - what if it was a human's life? One moment, one breaking of that code, and a human being lives. Keep to the code, and someone dies. How do you cope with that hypocrisy?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[He's clearly taken aback by the question, and it takes him a moment to answer] .....human life is the most valuable thing. I would sacrifice my beliefs, if it meant a person could live. But there is nothing short of that which could make me.

And that is not hypocrisy. It's being aware that no rule is absolute.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[The Master's smile is straight out of hell]

I'll keep that in mind.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur, oblivious to the smile, just holds out his hand]

May I have my glasses back now, please?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Say my name and beg.

[just getting kicks out of it, now]

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[blushing] Last time you took my watch, all I had to do was say your name.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

The ante is upped, this time. Is that how you say it? You up the ante? Anyway.

On your knees, Arthur Eddington.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Hesitates, fidgeting] Do you promise to give them back, if I do this? And not take them again for as long as I have this body?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Yes to the first one, 'I will at least wait twenty-four Earth hours' to the second one.