paradisalost | (no subject)

[sound of a book closing]

Not really.

Mind if I come to visit?

[insert shrug here] 'Course not.

I'll be there in a few minutes, then. [sounds of walking, timeskip, and he knocks on Ten's door]

[opens it, smiling a bit] Hi.

[he smiles back, leaning against the doorframe] You've been quiet lately. Have you been adjusting to things?

[shrugs, hands in pockets -- in a very Ten-like way, too] For the most part, yeah. Did a bit of reading, found out I have a daughter, getting used to the hustle and bustle... you know.

[he steps into the room] Ah, right, Jenny. She sort of...slipped my mind. [apologetic smile] I would have told you about her had I, well, remembered. She seems to be a bit of a rebel, though - I believe she ran away from the castle?

Yeah. That's what I was told. Then fell down and hit her head on the stairs a couple of days ago.

Really? [concerned look] Is she all right?

She will be, yeah.

... So... any reason you wanted to see me?

[chuckle, and a bit of a flirty smile] What, I can't just come and check up on a friend without having ulterior motives? Really, Doctor, you suspect too much.

[slight smirk, eyebrow raise] I can't exactly take anyone's word for anything these days.

[he takes another step closer to him, biting his lower lip as he smiles] Mm, maybe you have a point.

Probably shouldn't believe anything anyone's told me, but, well. [shrugs, looks straight at the Master] S'pose I'll have to take most of it at face value.

[raises an eyebrow, he looks a little less playful now] Trying to get at something, Doctor?

[gauging reaction :(] Just making an observation. I... do have every reason to believe you, don't I?

Of course you do. [though his smile may have slipped a bit, it's never left his face] The humans, well...[vague gesture] Maybe not so much.

Of course.

[shrug] It's not that they're untrustworthy, it's that they're gullible and perfectly willing to believe whatever they're told. [grin] Especially when you throw in a hint of hypnotic suggestion.

[a 'heh', but it's not entirely heartsfelt]

[smirk] So if they say anything about the oh-so-benevolent Doctor keeping them safe from the evil madman on the TARDIS, well...it's all part of the show we put on, really.

[long look] ... So you are the Master.

[chuckle] It's a nicely villainous alias, don't you think?

[eyebrow, slightly amused snort] What, so I play the jailer and you play the prisoner just for kicks?

Mm. Makes them more reliant on you, more trusting. After all, you keep me from killing them in, oh, any number of gory ways. They're safe because of you - and if there's one thing humans like, it's being safe.

Hmm.

[grin] I do hope they didn't slander me too much. I promise I don't eat babies for breakfast.