02. Study break

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

[And suddenly a desk appears on the Plane. It's a large desk, covered in papers. A star chart has fallen off the edge and now lies neglected on the floor. There is a large pile of old books partially obscuring the woman furiously scribbling in a large leather bound notebook.]

Bugger all.

[She scratches something out with her pen, leaving behind a big black blotch.  This is Ace, hard at work studying.  Please feel free to interrupt - she'll welcome the distraction.]

Comments

[pactum.livejournal.com]

Whoa...

[That's a lot of books. He notices the star chart on the floor, though, and picks it up carefully before approaching the overloaded desk.]

Um, excuse me...

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[Ace gets the misfortune of seeing her very favourite Time Lord - and not only that, he happens to be wearing the Prydonian robes that Handy gave him. No hat or neck-thing, fortunately, but the fact doesn't change that there is no where you can go where a Time Lord in silly robes won't find you.

That could be meaningful, but it isn't.]

Miss McShane.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

[It doesn't take much for Ace to set down her pen. She welcomes the excuse to take a break from her studies.]

Hullo.

She looks at the star chart he is holding.]

Of course the one I need would be the one I couldn't find. Ta.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

The Bastard Master isn't the only one with Prydonian robes. This is a fact she finds horrifying, but she tries not to let it show. She is also sans the ceremonial part, and only wears the robe part - it's a piece of clothing she's found to be surprisingly comfortable, though not practical when it comes to running.

She grips her pen a little harder as she looks up.]

You.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

You dropped this... [He offers it to her, smiling a bit shyly.] I hope I'm not interrupting.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

A few more minutes of that and I think my brain was going to explode. Trust me, the interruption is welcome.

[She takes the paper and sets it on top of a stack of papers without paying much attention.]

[pactum.livejournal.com]

O-oh... I see. [He peeks at the books, hands at his sides, like he's afraid to touch anything. 'Cause he's BEEN in Koton's shop and MAN is that guy crazy about things being touched.] What are you studying? It looks like it's really important...

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

It's not as important as some people think it is. [Wrinkles her nose - she's tired, and right about now an alien invasion would be more welcome then her studies.]

It's t' do with density fluctuations at the center of new star formations. They like to take all the mystery and fun out of something amazing and reduce it to boring science.

[Ace notices his reticence around the books, and smiles]

Don't worry about those dusty old tomes. If they were that important no one would entrust them to me.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

[it is a Time Lord robe party! He grins at her]

You recognize me?

[humanwaterdemon.livejournal.com]

[Picks up the star chart and tilts her head at it] ...Huh.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

[The glowing yellow of his eyes may no longer be visible and he may wear a different face now but there is something about him she recognizes. This is, after all, the third body she's seen him in and she is becoming more experienced at regenerations. Plus few other the the Master can carry off that level of cockiness while prancing around in velvet robes]

Enough to wonder why you aren't dead yet.

OOC: Ekk! I totally forget that I didn't answer your OOC question about them knowing each other - does this work?

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

[Leans back in her chair, flexing her hands to relieve the cramping.]

I'm really going to have to get a bigger desk. Things keep falling off.

[humanwaterdemon.livejournal.com]

[Still tilting her head at the chart] Important things?

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

I admit, my greatest flaw is my complete inability to die.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

if you're looking to get rid of that flaw I'm more then willing to help you.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

I doubt you could correct it, Miss McShane. Even with all of your... learning.

Nice robes, by the way. I couldn't believe the Doctor when he told me you were at the Academy.

[pactum.livejournal.com]

[Aww, Ace. He watches her, able to tell this a bit. But that expression is replaced by one of utter confusion at the next part.] Density... what? Ah... w-wow. I don't blame you...

Can I look at one? [He's compelled to look, curiosity and all.]

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

Some would like to think so. [She refrains from rolling her eyes, but only just]

I guess they're important enough, if I want to stay at the Academy.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

Oh, I just might be able to come up with something. Fancy learning doesn't solve every problem, you know.

On top of everything else you're not one of those pureblood snobs, are you? I didn't figure you cared all that much about Gallifrey or what went on there.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

A pureblood snob? Me? Why, Miss McShane, my best friend at the Academy was rumoured to be half-human, and I'm presently married to one of your own kind. No, I know all about the Lady President's experiment with the Academy, and how it ends. What surprises me is that it's you. You're less the Academy sort than he or I ever were, which takes considerable effort.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

[She understands the confusion, completely. She really is becoming more like the Professor, isn't she? Scary and exhilarating thought.] It's nothing compared to actually seeing a star form.

[She picks up a book, carefully selecting one filled with illustrations (http://www.phschool.com/science/science_news/articles/images/chemistry_cosmos.jpg) of star births, and hands it to him.]

Here you go, mate.

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

Married? [Said with a combination of shock, dismay, horror and disbelief. A deep shuddering sigh follows.]

I might take that as a compliment, coming from anyone else but you. I'm nothing like anyone at the Academy, but I do well enough.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

I know! You never think you'll ever marry until you find the right woman. Or man. Or whatever. Mine happens to be female.

Do you have a terrible nickname yet? Or have they decided that your human names are insulting enough on their own?

[aces-are-rare.livejournal.com]

The right woman? Don't you mean the woman most susceptible to your brainwashing techniques?

What, you mean the Time Lords on Gallifrey didn't grovel and call you Master? Colour me shocked.

[savagestime.livejournal.com]

You don't think there are humans with my tastes, Miss McShane? I'd expect the Doctor to be that deluded about humanity, not you.

[amused] Last time I spoke to the High Council, there was far more submission than mere grovelling. I only meant that everyone at the Academy gets a nickname, from the Doctor to Vansell to the Rani.

Oh, perhaps they just refer to you by your species?