05; I came in the ring like a dog on a chain [I found out the underbelly is sicker than it seems]

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[A month, or thereabouts, have passed here on the plane. That number means nothing in a place where time passes completely differently, not to mention it being a span punctuated by constant torture. Though he knows he has been gone, the Master does not remember for precisely how long. His memories of events before his ..absence are muddled and incomplete.]

The scenery hasn't changed very much.

[His voice is rough, hoarse from overuse, but that will not last long. He looks down at himself, hands scrubbing together momentarily as if to wipe a phantom memory away. He knows there has been an inordinate amount of pain he's been subjected to but what memories he does have are fleeting. In a way that bothers him, and in another way the slight, momentary, shake in his hands tells him that perhaps he does not need to know all that has happened to him in the interim. He banishes the thought away; the shaking stops.]

Choices. I remember those. [His eyes narrow as he looks around him.] The votes I remember as well.

[A twitch and he rolls his shoulders, impatience beginning to show.] Well, isn't anyone going to tell me if it was worth it? Did you lot choose the right person?

[His voice takes on a much colder and darker tone. His smile is utterly devoid of mirth.] I'd hate to think I spent all that time lying around with nothing to show for it but a few lousy votes for the wrong person.

[At the mention of all that, his jaw clenches, head twitching just slightly to the side as he reigns himself in under very careful control. He breathes in, then out.]

No takers? Well, how about I pop off and get myself sorted and you all can work out just what you'd like to inform me of.

[A Fortress that may look familiar to some has reappeared with his return and the Master doesn't wait for any replies to his questions. At the present moment he feels that he has been long removed from any sense of control, something he needs back. He disappears into the Fortress for an hour or so.

When he finally emerges, he is dressed in an immaculate black suit, clean shaven, hair returned to it's original brown color and neatly trimmed. He buttons the suit and adjust his cuffs as he walks out and stops, taking a look around once more.]

Now, where were we?

Comments

[bonnypiperlad]

[Where Jamie happens to be at the moment is pressed up against the side of the Fortress, having appeared suddenly from off the Plane just after the Master's come back outside. Judging by the large greenish-yellow crystal he has in one hand and the way he's peering off to the side as if he's expecting someone to be after him, chances are good he came here on purpose.] Och, that was a close one.

[The strange voice causes him to step away from the building and peer over at the man, who looks familiar...but he's not sure from where. Come to think about it, Jamie's also not sure why the man's asking that question.]

Hey?

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

Bit out of sorts, are we? [Because he's really one to talk.] I was just wondering what I'd missed here, I've been gone for just a little while.

[bonnypiperlad]

No, I'm fine. [He shoves the crystal into his pocket. It doesn't quite fit, but Jamie doesn't really seem to mind.]

Gone...? [Interesting. Jamie's eyes narrow a little as he studies the other man for a moment. There's a dawning suspicion there about who he might be talking to, but he's still not entirely certain just yet.]

Aye, well, that depends on how long you've been gone, exactly. Maybe if I knew when it was when ye left I could tell ye what's happened since.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

Of course. [A tight smile.] From here? Well, for all of you, I've been told the rough equivalent of a month.

[bonnypiperlad]

[Oh, so it is him. The hair had thrown him a bit. He figures, though, answering the questions wouldn't hurt. He'll just have to be careful, that's all.] Aye, that sounds about right. Let me think...some people have been trying to figure out the voting went. And there may be something in the library, but I've not seen anything there. There's some new people around as well, but I'd not say that's anything unusual

[He's considering adding in the part about the Secret Santa when an idle glance reminds him there's something else new, too.] Although, I've not seen this place before. I wonder who brought it?

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

Something in the library? How vague. Who is collecting the information on the voting? I'd like to know the results of that inquiry.

[looks back at the Fortress]It hasn't been here while I was away?

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, well, it was Meredith who mentioned it in the first place. [And she's not generally a font of information, from what Jamie's seen. He hesitates when he's asked about who's collecting information on the voting. He doesn't particularly want to bring Oliver to the Master's attention. Not only does he not want his friend to be in danger, Oliver doesn't even currently remember that he's got that information. So he hedges.]

I've not seen them for awhile. [Incidentally, this part is true. Jamie hasn't seen Oliver since he showed up on the Plane with the hospital bed. The next sentence, however, is pure speculation.] I don't think they're on the Plane at the moment. And, like I said, I've not seen this fortress of yours before. If ye had it somewhere else on the Plane, I've not run across it.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[smiles and disregards the information on Meredith] Oh, you haven't? Well, a name would be a good start for me, I can look around on my own after that really.

[purses his lips into a thoughtful frown] Then I suppose it came along with my return. How convenient.

[bonnypiperlad]

[His instincts are telling him that giving Oliver's name would be a very, very bad idea. And Jamie trusts his instincts. He folds his arms against his chest.]

How do I know ye won't hurt them? Ye were willing to betray the rest of us to get what ye wanted before.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[Still smiling, he uses his very best I'm A Politician And You Can Trust Me voice.]

Oh, that entire affair was highly irregular. You see, I was very ill and not thinking very clearly. Pain and the constant threat of dying were my only motivations in those moments, desperation took hold.

[bonnypiperlad]

[He's heard that type of voice before, and it didn't end well. So he's maybe just the least little bit skeptical.]

Oh, aye. I see. And ye would be perfectly fine now?

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[Damn. Well, one must try.]

Yes, perfectly.

[bonnypiperlad]

Ah. [Perfectly fine is a whole lot worse, if you ask Jamie. More dangerous.]

Aye, well, I'm sure that they'll tell ye when they're ready to.

[He starts to walk a few steps away, pulling the crystal back out of his pocket as he does so.] Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get this back to the Doctor.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

And here I thought you would! Weren't we having a pleasant conversation?

[though, you've caught his attention with that.] The Doctor? And which one would that be.

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh, aye. [Jamie still doesn't seem particularly inclined to name names, but he will answer the other question.]

My Doctor, of course. And before ye ask, no, he's not one of the ones on the Plane, so he'll not have been asking questions about who voted for ye.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

Your Doctor, how terribly sweet his companions are. So possessive, it's rather adorable.

[bonnypiperlad]

[That stops him, and he turns around to fix the Master with a look.]

Aye. My Doctor. And what's it to you?

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

[chuckles]

I only find it so utterly amusing that all of you seem to take such ownership of him.

[bonnypiperlad]

[That one hits rather close to the mark, and it shows.]

Aye, well. If ye have a better way to tell him apart from all the other Doctors on the Plane, I'd like to hear it.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't waste my time, were I you.

[bonnypiperlad]

Why, because they're all the Doctor anyway? I do realize that, ye know.

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

Oh no, I just doubt you'll be around long enough for it to matter to him.

[bonnypiperlad]

And what's that supposed to mean?

[best-served-hot.livejournal.com]

You're not the first. You won't be the last.

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie doesn't say anything in return, but his jaw tightens for a moment. Then he turns and walks away, dropping from the Plane after a few steps.]