Log: The Master and Donna Noble (the Verse Without a Name AU)
OOC: One more log with startletfallen for the road. Alternate Universe of the Donna-Master universe. Yes, it's an AU of an AU. Branches off after this log. Warning for violence and possibly disturbing content. Incomplete.
[Donna] *so... first week or so of captivity?*
[Master] *oh, yes! And the Master? Very much not having a good day for patience. More a 'where's a good genocide when you need it' kind of day.*
[Donna] *is also in a bad mood. And has decided that perching on the kitchen counter and lobbing glasses across the room and watching them shatter is a GOOD way to spend her time*
[Master] *was mostly ignoring this, mostly because he doesn't give a damn about the glasses, but the sound is starting to get on his nerves* *almost growling* Stop that.
[Donna] Oh, did you like these glasses? *lobs another* So sorry, I'm terribly clumsy.
[Master] *which brings him to the kitchen doorway* Stop that fucking noise, now.
[Donna] *eyes flash, and she's angry and the drums are pounding and she HATES HIM, so she lobs another, defiantly*
[Master] *and the fact that she's defying him pisses him off even MORE, so he crosses the kitchen, grabs her arm and twists it back painfully* Do you want me to break it? Is that the point of this little exercise?
[Donna] *cries out a little and struggles to get free* Let me GO!
[Master] Then stop. Trying. My. PATIENCE. *shouting at her by the end of the sentence*
[Donna] Let me go HOME! *shouting right back*
[Master] *smiles, with absolutely nothing nice about it* You'll never see home again.
[Donna] *aims a kick at his kneecap, trying to get his legs to give out*
[Master] *sidesteps, barely in time to miss the kick and -- you'll get a broken arm for that, Donna* Don't you dare.
[Donna] *cries out, dropping to her knees* Let me GO!
[Master] *and he does, but he continues to hover over her* You still haven't learned a thing. You don't know your place.
[Donna] *growls* My place is with my FAMILY.
[Master] No. You're not HUMAN anymore. You have the chance to be something other than weak and pathetic. *turns, all of a sudden, to walk over to the collection of shattered glass on the floor, and kneels down* And if you're not going to choose right yourself.... *stands and approaches her again, now holding a large, very sharp piece of glass* I'll have to help you.
[Donna] *eyes widen. VERY wide* Wh-what are you doing? STOP that.
[Master] *incredibly calm, but just -- any bit of sanity? Yeah, totally gone* I have tried, Donna. I've given you time to adjust. I've been kind. *which, in his mind, he has* I brought you back from the pointless little life you were living, into what you really are. And you insist on being difficult.
[Donna] *tinyvoice* Please. I just want to go home.
[Master] You can never go home. We can't ever go home again. Home is /gone/. *drops to one knee in front of her* It won't hurt for long. And you'll be so much better afterwards.
[Donna] *has started crying. Because this is fucking SCARY, okay* Stop. Please.
[Master] Shhh. *reaches out with his empty hand and caresses her cheek* No need to cry. I'm going to fix it. *touches the sharp corner of glass lightly to the hollow of her throat*
[Donna] *sobs* Oh god! Please, I'll be good, I'll be quiet...
[Master] *quiet for a moment, almost as if he's considering giving her a last chance, but she's been so angry and HE is so angry and the drums are so LOUD, now, louder than they've been since he came back, and he presses down just a little, just enough to make her start to bleed, and he's FIXING her, making things RIGHT--* Hush, pet. We'll get it right this time. *slight smile*
[Donna] *whimpers and squeezes her eyes shut, trying to back away - but she's backed against a cupboard*
[Master] *softly, as he pushes into her mind* Hush. *and, quite calmly, proceeds to slit her throat*
[Donna] *chokes, gurgles, twitches, and goes still. There's... a LOT of blood. Like... a LOT, a lot. And a building golden glow as the energy starts the regenerative process*
[Master] *and as that happens, he's in her mind, pushing, fixing. Everything is wiped clean -- not gone ENTIRELY, because good as he is, he doesn't know how to do that; but pushed DOWN, out of conscious, to the very BOTTOM of the subconscious, just -- the Doctor and all of her memories, buried behind a steel door and the entire weight of her mind, and the weight of time and space. The only thing left is the drums. And him. Not any specific memories, just -- PRESENCE, a direct connection, him in her mind*
[Donna] *and regenerates, in a flash of gold, slender, petite, short curly brown hair. And everything's just... BLANK. Nothing. Which makes her feel slightly off, but she doesn't know why, so she'll gasp awake and psychically cling to that presence*
[Master] *and he is happy to be clung to. In the confusion, she probably won't notice that she can't really get much off of him besides -- surface emotion, surface thought with real concern (or at least incredibly well fabricated concern)* All right now?
[Donna] I... *blinks, and looks around, confused* I don't... where am I?
[Master] *picture of patience, now that he's had his blood (and now that he's interested in the goingson)* My flat. London. Earth.
[Donna] *uncertain, and a little frightened* There's so much blood. Why am I covered in blood?
[Master] Accident. I tried to stop it, but I was too late.
[Donna] *nods uncertainly* You... who are you?
[Master] I am the Master. *gently reaches to stroke her hair* We should get you cleaned up, pet.
[Donna] *nods slowly, and leans into him a bit* I... I don't remember...
[Master] *wraps an arm around her shoulders* You don't need to worry about that now, you need to rest. It's been a long day.
[Donna] *a little desperate* Please, Master, I don't... I don't remember my /name/.
[Master] *with false surprise* You don't?
[Donna] *shakes her head slightly, looking down* I... I don't remember ANYTHING.
[Master] *touches her cheek lightly* You're tired. Come on. pulls away to stand up
[Donna] *reaches out to grab his hand* Please... what's my name?
[Master] *pauses for a second, considering, but, well, no harm in giving her her actual name. First name, anyway.* Donna.
[Donna] *softly, like she's trying to memorize it* Donna. *smiles a little at him* Thank you.
[Master] My pleasure. *squeezes her hand with a small smile* C'mon, then. Up you go. *offers his other hand, to help her stand*
[Donna] *stands, her clothes loose on her and blood drenched* *worried* Shouldn't I go to a hospital?
[Master] No. The regeneration took care of that. You just need to get that blood off of you.
[Donna] *frown, headtilt* Regeneration?
[Master] Don't remember that, either? You're probably better off. *frowns, 'worried'* Donna, don't you know what you are? *and that -- the knowledge should still be there, around the edges, even if not fully what it means*
[Donna] I... I'm a Time Lord. Time Lady. *frowns a little* I don't really... it's just words. I'm like you.
[Master] At least you have the words. The rest will come with time. *places a hand firmly on her shoulder and steers her out of the kitchen, towards the bathroom, if she'll let him*
[Donna] *of course! Because... well, he's obviously her friend.*
[Master] *oh, yes, /clearly/* There's fresh towels and washclothes in the bathroom. You can shower if you want, or just wash up, whatever you feel is best. Your old clothes aren't going to fit anymore, we'll have to get new ones tomorrow, but they should do for the night.
[Donna] *smiles a little and nods, even though she's still very confused*
[Master] *stops in front of the bathroom door* Just -- try to relax, alright? We'll sort everything out in the morning, but for now.... *trails off and shrugs, as if a little helpless*
[Donna] I... I understand. Thank you. *will shower and... try not to freak out a little over having no memory of hardly... ANYTHING.*
[Master] *and once she's out of sight, the /glee/ is unmistakable. He doesn't even mind cleaning up the glass at the moment, now that he's got his fun and the drums are sated for the time being.*
[Donna] *takes a long time washing up, getting used to her new body - because she knows it's new, somehow, she doesn't know how it moves, how it feels. And comes out with damp hair, wrapped in a towel* Where are my clothes?
[Master] *glances up from his -- newspaper, apparently* Bedroom. Second door after the bathroom.
[Donna] *and goes to put on pajamas. Which are ridiculously large on her* I... think we definitely need new clothes, yes.
[Master] First thing tomorrow morning, we'll go. Do you want some tea?
[Donna] I... yes, please. *is, for the moment, anyway, going to be quiet and well-behaved*
[Master] *ooh, that's a lovely change* It should be ready in a minute. Sit down.
[Donna] *sits, sort of... folding in on herself. She's slender, but those are some long legs, and when she pulls them up on the sofa with her, it looks like she's folding* How do I like it? My tea?
[Master] Last I know, it was lemon and honey and cream. It could have changed, though. Sometimes that happens.
[Donna] *curiously* Does it? When my body changes?
[Master] It can. Each regeneration is -- different. Different body, yes, but different personalities, too. Some are more alike than others, but no two regenerations are ever exactly alike, and that's right down from major traits to tastes and favorite colours.
[Donna] What was I like? Last time?
[Master] Willful. *smiles, slightly* Stubborn, sometimes. Smart, but then, I doubt that's changed.
[Donna] And I... I lived here? At your flat?
[Master] Yes. It was a -- recent development.
[Donna] How recent? Why?
[Master] A week. You needed someplace to stay, and I had room. And... well. You were ... new. To all this. I wanted to help you learn. ...I want to help you learn.
[Donna] *smiles a bit* Thank you. I... God, I don't even know how I know you.
[Master] I'm sure it will come back in time. *except for the part where no, it totally won't*
[Donna] *nods* Of course. It's... could it be a complication? From the regeneration?
[Master] Most likely. Things like that happen sometimes.
[Donna] Well, I won't worry about it then. That tea ready?
[Master] Should be just about. *disappears into the kitchen*
[Donna] With honey and lemon and a little bit of cream!
[Master] *returns shortly.* With tea. Just as you ordered. *offers her the cup*
[Donna] *sips, and makes a face* God, too sweet. How much honey'd you use?
[Master] Not much. No more than usual.
[Donna] *sticks her tongue out* Guess I don't like the honey so much.
[Master] I can make another cup, if you'd like. *smiles* You can experiment.
[Donna] That... yes, thank you. *pause* No, I can manage, it's not a problem. Just in the kitchen, yeah?
[Master] Yes. *sits, then* Tell me if you need help finding anything.
[Donna] *goes puttering, then!*
[Donna] So... what IS a Time Lord, anyway?
[Master] Our race of people. We are... were the rulers of the planet Gallifrey.
[Donna] *comes out of the kitchen - tea with lemon and a bit of cream* What aren't we anymore?
[Master] It's gone. Destroyed. Along with most of our people.
[Donna] *looks... startled, to say the least* I... what... what happened?
[Master] Another Time Lord wiped it out. Blown out of the skies. The three of us, we're all that's left.
[Donna] ...*aghast* Why would someone DO that?
[Master] We were in a war. And he killed them all, our world and the enemy's, both burning. *and a bit of anger slips through the matter-of-fact*
[Donna] That's... terrible. Even for a war.
[Master] Well, that's what he does. Destroys things. He just turned his hand to planets for once, instead of lives.
[Donna] *scowls*
[Donna] *so... first week or so of captivity?*
[Master] *oh, yes! And the Master? Very much not having a good day for patience. More a 'where's a good genocide when you need it' kind of day.*
[Donna] *is also in a bad mood. And has decided that perching on the kitchen counter and lobbing glasses across the room and watching them shatter is a GOOD way to spend her time*
[Master] *was mostly ignoring this, mostly because he doesn't give a damn about the glasses, but the sound is starting to get on his nerves* *almost growling* Stop that.
[Donna] Oh, did you like these glasses? *lobs another* So sorry, I'm terribly clumsy.
[Master] *which brings him to the kitchen doorway* Stop that fucking noise, now.
[Donna] *eyes flash, and she's angry and the drums are pounding and she HATES HIM, so she lobs another, defiantly*
[Master] *and the fact that she's defying him pisses him off even MORE, so he crosses the kitchen, grabs her arm and twists it back painfully* Do you want me to break it? Is that the point of this little exercise?
[Donna] *cries out a little and struggles to get free* Let me GO!
[Master] Then stop. Trying. My. PATIENCE. *shouting at her by the end of the sentence*
[Donna] Let me go HOME! *shouting right back*
[Master] *smiles, with absolutely nothing nice about it* You'll never see home again.
[Donna] *aims a kick at his kneecap, trying to get his legs to give out*
[Master] *sidesteps, barely in time to miss the kick and -- you'll get a broken arm for that, Donna* Don't you dare.
[Donna] *cries out, dropping to her knees* Let me GO!
[Master] *and he does, but he continues to hover over her* You still haven't learned a thing. You don't know your place.
[Donna] *growls* My place is with my FAMILY.
[Master] No. You're not HUMAN anymore. You have the chance to be something other than weak and pathetic. *turns, all of a sudden, to walk over to the collection of shattered glass on the floor, and kneels down* And if you're not going to choose right yourself.... *stands and approaches her again, now holding a large, very sharp piece of glass* I'll have to help you.
[Donna] *eyes widen. VERY wide* Wh-what are you doing? STOP that.
[Master] *incredibly calm, but just -- any bit of sanity? Yeah, totally gone* I have tried, Donna. I've given you time to adjust. I've been kind. *which, in his mind, he has* I brought you back from the pointless little life you were living, into what you really are. And you insist on being difficult.
[Donna] *tinyvoice* Please. I just want to go home.
[Master] You can never go home. We can't ever go home again. Home is /gone/. *drops to one knee in front of her* It won't hurt for long. And you'll be so much better afterwards.
[Donna] *has started crying. Because this is fucking SCARY, okay* Stop. Please.
[Master] Shhh. *reaches out with his empty hand and caresses her cheek* No need to cry. I'm going to fix it. *touches the sharp corner of glass lightly to the hollow of her throat*
[Donna] *sobs* Oh god! Please, I'll be good, I'll be quiet...
[Master] *quiet for a moment, almost as if he's considering giving her a last chance, but she's been so angry and HE is so angry and the drums are so LOUD, now, louder than they've been since he came back, and he presses down just a little, just enough to make her start to bleed, and he's FIXING her, making things RIGHT--* Hush, pet. We'll get it right this time. *slight smile*
[Donna] *whimpers and squeezes her eyes shut, trying to back away - but she's backed against a cupboard*
[Master] *softly, as he pushes into her mind* Hush. *and, quite calmly, proceeds to slit her throat*
[Donna] *chokes, gurgles, twitches, and goes still. There's... a LOT of blood. Like... a LOT, a lot. And a building golden glow as the energy starts the regenerative process*
[Master] *and as that happens, he's in her mind, pushing, fixing. Everything is wiped clean -- not gone ENTIRELY, because good as he is, he doesn't know how to do that; but pushed DOWN, out of conscious, to the very BOTTOM of the subconscious, just -- the Doctor and all of her memories, buried behind a steel door and the entire weight of her mind, and the weight of time and space. The only thing left is the drums. And him. Not any specific memories, just -- PRESENCE, a direct connection, him in her mind*
[Donna] *and regenerates, in a flash of gold, slender, petite, short curly brown hair. And everything's just... BLANK. Nothing. Which makes her feel slightly off, but she doesn't know why, so she'll gasp awake and psychically cling to that presence*
[Master] *and he is happy to be clung to. In the confusion, she probably won't notice that she can't really get much off of him besides -- surface emotion, surface thought with real concern (or at least incredibly well fabricated concern)* All right now?
[Donna] I... *blinks, and looks around, confused* I don't... where am I?
[Master] *picture of patience, now that he's had his blood (and now that he's interested in the goingson)* My flat. London. Earth.
[Donna] *uncertain, and a little frightened* There's so much blood. Why am I covered in blood?
[Master] Accident. I tried to stop it, but I was too late.
[Donna] *nods uncertainly* You... who are you?
[Master] I am the Master. *gently reaches to stroke her hair* We should get you cleaned up, pet.
[Donna] *nods slowly, and leans into him a bit* I... I don't remember...
[Master] *wraps an arm around her shoulders* You don't need to worry about that now, you need to rest. It's been a long day.
[Donna] *a little desperate* Please, Master, I don't... I don't remember my /name/.
[Master] *with false surprise* You don't?
[Donna] *shakes her head slightly, looking down* I... I don't remember ANYTHING.
[Master] *touches her cheek lightly* You're tired. Come on. pulls away to stand up
[Donna] *reaches out to grab his hand* Please... what's my name?
[Master] *pauses for a second, considering, but, well, no harm in giving her her actual name. First name, anyway.* Donna.
[Donna] *softly, like she's trying to memorize it* Donna. *smiles a little at him* Thank you.
[Master] My pleasure. *squeezes her hand with a small smile* C'mon, then. Up you go. *offers his other hand, to help her stand*
[Donna] *stands, her clothes loose on her and blood drenched* *worried* Shouldn't I go to a hospital?
[Master] No. The regeneration took care of that. You just need to get that blood off of you.
[Donna] *frown, headtilt* Regeneration?
[Master] Don't remember that, either? You're probably better off. *frowns, 'worried'* Donna, don't you know what you are? *and that -- the knowledge should still be there, around the edges, even if not fully what it means*
[Donna] I... I'm a Time Lord. Time Lady. *frowns a little* I don't really... it's just words. I'm like you.
[Master] At least you have the words. The rest will come with time. *places a hand firmly on her shoulder and steers her out of the kitchen, towards the bathroom, if she'll let him*
[Donna] *of course! Because... well, he's obviously her friend.*
[Master] *oh, yes, /clearly/* There's fresh towels and washclothes in the bathroom. You can shower if you want, or just wash up, whatever you feel is best. Your old clothes aren't going to fit anymore, we'll have to get new ones tomorrow, but they should do for the night.
[Donna] *smiles a little and nods, even though she's still very confused*
[Master] *stops in front of the bathroom door* Just -- try to relax, alright? We'll sort everything out in the morning, but for now.... *trails off and shrugs, as if a little helpless*
[Donna] I... I understand. Thank you. *will shower and... try not to freak out a little over having no memory of hardly... ANYTHING.*
[Master] *and once she's out of sight, the /glee/ is unmistakable. He doesn't even mind cleaning up the glass at the moment, now that he's got his fun and the drums are sated for the time being.*
[Donna] *takes a long time washing up, getting used to her new body - because she knows it's new, somehow, she doesn't know how it moves, how it feels. And comes out with damp hair, wrapped in a towel* Where are my clothes?
[Master] *glances up from his -- newspaper, apparently* Bedroom. Second door after the bathroom.
[Donna] *and goes to put on pajamas. Which are ridiculously large on her* I... think we definitely need new clothes, yes.
[Master] First thing tomorrow morning, we'll go. Do you want some tea?
[Donna] I... yes, please. *is, for the moment, anyway, going to be quiet and well-behaved*
[Master] *ooh, that's a lovely change* It should be ready in a minute. Sit down.
[Donna] *sits, sort of... folding in on herself. She's slender, but those are some long legs, and when she pulls them up on the sofa with her, it looks like she's folding* How do I like it? My tea?
[Master] Last I know, it was lemon and honey and cream. It could have changed, though. Sometimes that happens.
[Donna] *curiously* Does it? When my body changes?
[Master] It can. Each regeneration is -- different. Different body, yes, but different personalities, too. Some are more alike than others, but no two regenerations are ever exactly alike, and that's right down from major traits to tastes and favorite colours.
[Donna] What was I like? Last time?
[Master] Willful. *smiles, slightly* Stubborn, sometimes. Smart, but then, I doubt that's changed.
[Donna] And I... I lived here? At your flat?
[Master] Yes. It was a -- recent development.
[Donna] How recent? Why?
[Master] A week. You needed someplace to stay, and I had room. And... well. You were ... new. To all this. I wanted to help you learn. ...I want to help you learn.
[Donna] *smiles a bit* Thank you. I... God, I don't even know how I know you.
[Master] I'm sure it will come back in time. *except for the part where no, it totally won't*
[Donna] *nods* Of course. It's... could it be a complication? From the regeneration?
[Master] Most likely. Things like that happen sometimes.
[Donna] Well, I won't worry about it then. That tea ready?
[Master] Should be just about. *disappears into the kitchen*
[Donna] With honey and lemon and a little bit of cream!
[Master] *returns shortly.* With tea. Just as you ordered. *offers her the cup*
[Donna] *sips, and makes a face* God, too sweet. How much honey'd you use?
[Master] Not much. No more than usual.
[Donna] *sticks her tongue out* Guess I don't like the honey so much.
[Master] I can make another cup, if you'd like. *smiles* You can experiment.
[Donna] That... yes, thank you. *pause* No, I can manage, it's not a problem. Just in the kitchen, yeah?
[Master] Yes. *sits, then* Tell me if you need help finding anything.
[Donna] *goes puttering, then!*
[Donna] So... what IS a Time Lord, anyway?
[Master] Our race of people. We are... were the rulers of the planet Gallifrey.
[Donna] *comes out of the kitchen - tea with lemon and a bit of cream* What aren't we anymore?
[Master] It's gone. Destroyed. Along with most of our people.
[Donna] *looks... startled, to say the least* I... what... what happened?
[Master] Another Time Lord wiped it out. Blown out of the skies. The three of us, we're all that's left.
[Donna] ...*aghast* Why would someone DO that?
[Master] We were in a war. And he killed them all, our world and the enemy's, both burning. *and a bit of anger slips through the matter-of-fact*
[Donna] That's... terrible. Even for a war.
[Master] Well, that's what he does. Destroys things. He just turned his hand to planets for once, instead of lives.
[Donna] *scowls*