06; I'm taking it slow [feeding my flame]

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[The Master appears on the plane looking rather displeased, of course, that is quite a timid way to put it after the time he's had here since being so graciously released by their hosts (torture, the Valeyard and monkeys, oh my!). He looks around, jaw clenching and unclenching as he pulls the hoodie he is wearing over his suit off and puts it over

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[bit_impossible]

[the Doctor spots the Master from a ways away, but doesn't say anything yet. just...follows him to the bar and quietly closes the door behind him, then spots the hoodie. he speaks softly, calmly, in Ceressian]

You really should leave the hoodie out of the ensemble. Doesn't do you any justice. [which is so not what he wants to talk about, but hey, small talk works for a reason]

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[he takes a drink, still very calm as he thinks about it before giving a scoff, incredulous.]

Well, I mean they wouldn't-[except he really thinks about it and his face turns rather grim.] But that's suicide.

[bit_impossible]

[he doesn't say anything at first or even move to touch his glass. he just gives him a Look--and when he's ready to speak, he wags a finger at the Master]

No. No, that's not what the Final Sanction was all about. If initiated, it would have meant the end of everything as the Time Vortex tore apart--but it wouldn't have been the end for the Time Lords. They were to ascend while all that was going on, to become creatures of consciousness and be free of time, physical bodies, and all of creation since that was to be utterly destroyed anyway.

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[his lips curl up in a sneer] Nothing like spending time with the family.

[but, oh, that anger is coming back.] Oh, but they wouldn't take me along, would they? Or you. You and I are just their little pawns moving into checkmate on opposite sides of the board.

[bit_impossible]

[softly, not tearing his eyes away from the Master's] I didn't give them the chance to find that out.

But do you see why now? Why I did what I did? I had to stop them before they even tried to initiate it.

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[softly] I do but that doesn't mean, in my case, that they still won't try to come back and finish it.

[bit_impossible]

Nor in mine.

[his eyes flicker down to the glass and he picks it up, tossing back half the drink in one go. the instant it hits his tongue, he makes a face and swallows it in his surprise, then immediately sets the glass back down. his voice cracks as it burns its way down his throat] What the hell is this, anyway?

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[the Master chuckles at the Doctor's reaction and drinks more of his own. he picks up the bottle and laughs again.]

You know, I can't even read it. I don't think I've even had whatever this is before.

[bit_impossible]

[he gives him a look and comes around the bar, scooping up a couple glasses.] Well, you can go on having that. I'm making a banana daiquiri.

[starts peeling a banana] Want one?

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You and bananas, why that fruit in particular. Why couldn't it be, I don't know, apples. Apples are good. So are grapes. But no, bananas.[he gives him a look right back but shrugs, nursing the rest of his own drink as he watches him]

Why not, it isn't as if I have anything else more useful to be doing.

[bit_impossible]

Well, it's obvious why. They're the easiest to peel and eat! At least when they're compared to apples, anyway. [tosses the peeled one into a blender, picking up another--and suddenly wagging it at the Master] And, I'll have you know, I happen to like apples and grapes, but they make rubbish daiquiris.

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[dryly] I think the only thing that is obvious is your obsession with things of a phallic nature.

I wonder what that human doctor Freud would have to say about that.

[bit_impossible]

What?! Ohhh, you're one to talk! Freud would definitely have something to say about you, what you used in the library and compensation. Well, him and Napoleon. What'd you call it again? A "laser screwdriver"? What's so screwdriver-y about it? At least mine really can put up shelves. What can yours do? Blast the wall you were going to put the shelf on?

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Oh, yes, because all these years, all of my plots have been centered around shelves. Congratulations, Doctor, you've sorted it out, want a biscuit?

And I would tell you to ask the Doctor from my universe but he isn't here-[he frowns momentarily. had he ever been, he could have sworn...but he dismisses it.]-to ask.

He knows just how many homely uses it has. [that should worry you.]

[bit_impossible]

[an eyebrow slowly raises] I'll take your word on that.

A biscuit would be nice though. You got any? [starts the blender!]

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[finishes his drink and sets it down. he won't try talking over the blender, so he simply makes a show of patting down his pockets and mouthing-]

No.

[as sarcastically as he can.]