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

[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.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

.....I suppose I can't ask for anything more.

[slowly, and looking straight down at the floor, Arthur goes down on his knees]

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[gently]

Look at me, Arthur. Look at me and ask.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[He can barely bring himself to lift his head, much less look up at the Master. But he does, something akin to shame in his expression]

Please, Master. Please let me have my glasses back.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Why so ashamed, Arthur?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Because...I'm on my knees, begging.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

Don't you religious people do that all the time?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[looking back down again, mumbling] I don't kneel to pray. I sit.