Halloween Begins - Night of the 24th - Day 1 - The Bar

[traveled_mod]

One might think, considering the fact that the Bar was a central meeting place, that it might be immune from the effects of this week.

One would be very very wrong.

The difference is somewhat more subtle, however.

There is, near the counter itself, a few stacked boxes with a child's doll inside. The packaging assures you that he'll be your '

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[doyouhearthem]

The Master sat at a booth, pint in hand. He had finished repairs and was free to leave, but felt no real hurry to do so. Things would progress very quickly once he had Daniel Faraday. He'd have to keep an eye on him, for one. It'd be difficult to get a moment away from his planet. Then, of course, there were his ever-present thoughts on the Doctor. Being free among the stars once more meant he could begin the chase anew... but that was still a way off in his scheme of things, and it could wait. For now, he was content with his pint, and busied himself with sketching out new kinds of celebrations for his people to flatter him with.

That is, until a glint of gold caught his eye.

In the booth across from him was a rather intricate-looking box, and he couldn't help but be intrigued. Since there was no one there - the bar seemed uncharacteristically empty, tonight - he went to examine it.

[I watched Hellraiser last night just for this. I'm lookin' forward to it...]

[traveled_mod]

[I cannot speak to the amount of glee this particular pairing of item and character]

The box was just that, a box: gold, inlaid with any number of designs. It was obviously a box, though, something to be opened, something that would reveal it's secrets only to those worthy of it.

[doyouhearthem]

The Master studied the thing, followed the filigree first with his eyes, and then a finger. A slight shock seemed to spark off his fingertip, and as he ran his finger down, the box itself felt almost electrified.

"...Hmm."

He picked the box up, brought it back to his booth, and looked it over thoughtfully. They had puzzles like these on Gallifrey; they were more often decahedra or other complex shapes, but the principal was the same. This one seemed very finely-crafted. What sort of thing would be inside? He couldn't resist.

And so, sipping at his pint, he went to work on it.

[traveled_mod]

After some time, something he'd done triggered a reaction in the box. The small golden wheel started to turn and pieces of the box twitched and moved in a strange configuration. The box was a star. Then it was a circle. Slowly, a song like from a music box began to play as the little gold disc turned slowly.

[doyouhearthem]

If anyone claimed the Master flinched at that moment, he'd fiercely deny it.

He quickly regained his composure, of course. The box must have clockwork mechanisms inside it, a tiny switch somewhere that he must have tripped in his workings. He held it up to his ear for a moment, and it did seem to whirr...

It occurred to him then that this may be someone's nasty idea of a joke. Perhaps, like a scarificator device, there were blades spring-loaded inside. Perhaps a needle with some horrible poison, or a venomous insect contained within. It seemed like something he'd do.

...Which is precisely why he ignored that notion, and continued tinkering.

[traveled_mod]

Finally, the center of the box opened, blooming almost like a flower as light poured forth from the inside. What could be in there?

[doyouhearthem]

A light? How very odd. He kept the box at arm's length, just in case, and tilted it to look.

[traveled_mod]

Which was when four chains burst out of the box, aiming to hook around his head and drag him into hell.

[doyouhearthem]

Despite his Superior Time Lord Reflexes, the Master was not expecting that. He managed to duck, yes, but not completely out of the way, and the hooks caught upon his shoulder and arm with alarming speed. They tugged, and he shouted in pain, screamed wordlessly... but there was no one there.

He gritted his teeth and grabbed the chains, trying to disengage their hooks from his skin.

[traveled_mod]

There was a voice rising from the box.

"It's time to play now. This is only what you wanted. You opened the box."

The hooks yanked; it was be torn apart or be pulled in.

[doyouhearthem]

The Master howled back epithets in Gallifreyan, wild-eyed, terrified - and furious. The damn box was a trap, and not only had he not seen it coming, but whatever creature set it had terminal intentions.

Blood welled up from his wounds, soaking his jacket. He wasn't dead yet.

Though it took a great deal of will, he stopped struggling at last and let the hooks take him down to whatever fate awaited him.

[traveled_mod]

...which was nothing, it seemed.

There was a burst of extreme pain, a flash of darkness. And then, well, then he was sitting there, looking at the harmless puzzle box. What an annoying illusion one might think. What a terrible joke.

Hmm.

[doyouhearthem]

He leapt from his seat, still panting, looking wildly about the room. What the hell just happened? He touched his shoulder - nothing, only the phantom remembrance of pain. He backed away quickly from the box, leaning against the frame of an opposite booth.

The Master took a moment to catch his breath. Had it only been an illusion? Was that the surprise? No, it felt too real, and if it were false he would've sensed it... right?

"Right nasty device you've made," he remarked aloud, still not fully convinced this wasn't a trap set for him. "It's almost worthy of something I'd try. But whatever it is you want from me, you won't get it!"