02; As empty as that beating drum [But the sound has just begun]

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[Despite the fact that he could more than likely find a more suitable place to settle down, the Master is curled up on the floor of the Plane off to the side and hopefully not in danger of being stepped on. There are various wrappers and shreds of clothing (that are not his own) littering the area around him.

Since the resurrection went Horribly Wrong, he hasn't slept and he isn't actually asleep now. It's kind of a hard thing to do when you're constantly bleeding out energy and needing to replenish it. Not to mention the noise from the drums which has grown to a nearly unbearable level. The Master shifts suddenly and sits up in a half-crouch, eyes narrowing as he scans the Plane. He needs something else to draw his focus away from the noise and the pain of it-]

Doesn't stop. It never stops.

[He spies a barrel and grins, eyes taking on a wild gleam. The Master stands, not bothering to dust off and disappears from the Plane a moment before returning with a rusty pipe. He stalks over, stopping to breathe in, to pinpoint the others on the Plane as he idly twirls the pipe in one hand. And then he starts:

One!Two!Three!Four!]

Always there. [Making everyone else hear it seems like a plan. He stops and looks around, scowling at the lack of a response because that just will not do.

And he begins again.]

Comments

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[The Master gives a feral grin and cants his head to the side. Attention is good! But he only chuckles, debating his options.]

Doctor, you shouldn't ask questions you don't want to know the answers to.

[He twirls the pipe around again before another set of four beats sounds out against the barrel]

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[frowns] I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know the answer.

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[He grits his teeth a moment, that grin turning to more of a scowl.]

The drums, the noise in my head, the constant drumming. Listen!

[Four more beats on the pipe, each louder than the last.]

Can't you hear it?

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

The only drumming I hear is the banging noise you're making with that stupid pipe. [he takes a step forward, concerned] But hang on, what d'you mean it's in your head?

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[watches him, idly twirling the pipe in one hand before pacing.] I mean it's there. It's always there.

[stops and rolls his eyes] What did you think I meant?

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

I don't know! I've never heard about this drumming thing from your self, but then again, he's not exactly one for sharing. [does he sound a bit bitter there? perhaps. he paces a bit himself, though]

D'you think...have you tried Contact? I'm not sure it would work with me, 'cause I came back a bit wrong, but it might...

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[watches him pace, mildly amused at that hint of a bitter tone. Poor thing.]

Tried Contact to do what exactly? [curious now, but he stays where he is.]

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[shrugs] Make it a bit quieter, maybe? More bearable? Dunno if I can help without having a look first. Or a listen, rather. But it's up to you. Last time I invaded someone's mind without permission, I got killed for it.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[chuckles] Oh, I think you're setting yourself up for failure thinking things like that.

[Though, wait, you're totally getting a 'you did what? idiot.' look for that.] If you think I'm letting you initiate Contact-

[Besides the barrel, which has earned the attention of Nine, entertainment is extremely lacking for him at the moment. He tosses away the pipe and grins.]

Well don't just stand there.

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[rolls his eyes] Has anyone ever told you you're a bit pessimistic?

[the 'you did what?' look gets a 'stfu' look back. He walks up to the Master though, and hesitates -- he looks a bit scared, even, that it won't work.]

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[smiles] Has anyone told you that you could take up a circus act with those ears?

[He seems to debate this for a moment himself, hesitant. Definitely uncertain. His skills are somewhat lacking as his attention is divided amongst so many different things. He reaches out into Nine's mind, just a few moments, only enough to let him hear it-]

Just listen.

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor glares at that, but then the Master is in his mind. He blocks off his own memories immediately, just in case, but then -- then he hears the drumming. To his credit, he doesn't pull back, despite the shock. He doesn't want to.] I can hear it...Master, what's that noise? Where's it coming from?

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[It's loud, nearly deafening and it hurts. If he won't pull back, the Master won't break contact just yet. It's not so easy to cover his own shock because the Doctor can HEAR it.]

You heard it. You can hear it. The drums-they've been there since- they're always there. Never dying.

[His laugh is almost relieved-he knew it!-that the Doctor can actually hear it.] It's real.

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[the pain doesn't deter him in the slightest; if anything, it only encourages him. And he doesn't want it to end...he hasn't had another Time Lord in his mind since Omega, and that was before his abilities to sense them had dampened.] How? They're not just...it's not just you.

[he doesn't know how to explain it, but he can feel they're not a natural part of the Master's mind, even if they've been there his whole life. Which doesn't make any sense, because he can't remember the Master ever mentioning it in the past.] You're completely sure they've been there the whole time?

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[masochist. :| though his excitement is palpable. The other Doctor had said that before on the Valiant. Told him it was only him.] I don't know. But I know it's been there since that night in the dark. I first heard it then.

Yes. Since Initiation. [a part of him senses the Doctor's confusion.]

What?

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

I dunno...it's just that your self's never mentioned them. Least not to me, anyway. D'you think they're getting worse? Maybe he's able to suppress the noise a bit, or maybe my Tenth's been helping....I've got to talk to him, if I can find him again.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

This is the worst they've ever been. I can't focus before I was able to- It's too much now.

not late rly :|

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor is worried, and it's strong enough that the Master might be able to pick it up through their connection, despite the noise and chaos. Or, you know, because it's written all over his face.] There's got to be a way to help you. Maybe I could put up a few barriers.

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[The Master does pick up on it and that might be a bit of hesitation coupled with a sense of pulling back.] Nothing ever helps. It only comes back, louder than before.

It hurts.

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[frowns] Might be able to help, if you'll let me. And we'll think of something else if it doesn't work. [he's not demanding to help -- it's a request. Asking for permission.]

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[scoffs but there's still uncertainty] Because you've always been very good at this sort of thing.

I could've sworn I repped to this. fail :|

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[grins] Practice makes perfect?

No you don't.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

You're not practicing on me. [It's enough of a mess in there without the Doctor mucking things up as well.]

:D

[charmandsmiles.livejournal.com]

[rolls his eyes] I meant that metaphorically.

:)

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

Of course you did. [beat] Try then, before I change my mind.