(Untitled)

[moldedoffaults]

William Masters has never been in the Nexus, but in the past two years of traveling he's seen many places, some of them far more exotic than the Nexus, and so he doesn't look particularly impressed by it. It looks like a nice enough place, he just doesn't see anything all that different about it. It's like many of the others

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[laser_not_sonic]

The Master has encountered men like William before, and as a rule, he disdains them utterly. Human, the remnants of some alternate Self forced into circumstances dire enough that use of a Chameleon Arch became necessary- or worse, some alternate Self whom the Doctor had decided would make a better life as a stunted ape than as a Time Lord.

So he regards William coolly, his attitude that of a landowner, perhaps, perusing a piece of property which doesn't quite come up to snuff. Because he is his, this man, he belongs to the Master, to his true self.

'Having trouble deciding?' he inquires, just the barest edge of nastiness lurking under the cool words.

[laser_not_sonic]

The Master sees it all, yes, this boy's sad half-life, not human enough, oh dear. Just enough of the Master left in him to drive him completely mad. But those two most recent years- the Master sneers. Rescued by the Doctor, of course, and oh, he bets he gets off on that, having his very own reformed pet Master to haul around the galaxy with him playing tourist.

Gently, like the caress of a lover, the thumb at William's cheekbone strokes over the crinkled edge of one eye, squeezed shut. 'Look at me,' he commands softly.

[moldedoffaults]

William flinches away, the unwelcome touch after that stream of images making him feel physically ill. His automatic response to the command is to shake his head, to refuse and attempt to draw back, but he realizes a second later that refusing probably won't get him anywhere good and he doesn't have the upper hand here.

He opens his eyes, reluctantly, his gaze flickering everywhere, over the Master's shoulder, across his face, never meeting the man's eyes.

"Please stop." It's quiet but it's not pleading, not weak. He's not at that point yet.

[laser_not_sonic]

'Why?'

It's morbid, tracing his fingers over this face, his own face, but so weak, utterly powerless, because no-matter what William might say, he is weak. He's human, of course he's weak. He's stubborn, though, the Master will give him that; the clay holds a mould, but not enough for it to be anything other than entertaining.

Almost idly, that finger by William's eye begins to press, tracing the socket, the edge of it where the eyeball itself, so vulnerable, begins. He would never go so far as to do any real harm to this body- his Self would hardly be pleased with him if he did, so it's more an... exploration than anything else. Testing William's limits curiously, the way one might poke at something small and slimy in a petri dish.

[moldedoffaults]

William opens his mouth to respond but whatever he might have in his mind to say -- and he's not even sure what to say to that, besides why would you do this to someone -- falls away. His hand comes up instead at the pressure, wrapping around the Master's wrist in an attempt to pull his hand away.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asks, and there's fear there, but the anger is more prominent in his voice.

[laser_not_sonic]

William may be angry, but the Master shows no visible sign that he feels any emotion at all in response. He watches, impassive, pleased at his anger, and makes no move to take back his hand.

And then, after a moment, he smiles. It's his Harold Saxon smile, the broad, glittering grin that says really you can trust me, you know. It seems to have too many teeth in it. 'You're a fascinating thing, William Masters. I'm indulging my curiosity, that's all.'

[moldedoffaults]

He grits his teeth and lets go of the Master's wrist as soon as his hand is away from William's face. He doesn't want to touch the man.

"Really I'm not. Terribly boring life, me. Nothing to interest anybody. I think you'd find a lot more to be curious about with someone else."