Christmas Open Thread

[rude_not_ginger]

•deck•the•halls•

• THE DOCTOR LEARNS THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS •

~•~

Christmas Eve. 2009.

Comments

[best_served_hot]

"You know, there's an easier way to go about finding out the true meaning of Christmas, my dear Doctor. It may terrify you though, it involves conversation," the Master began, leaning closer as he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Something you do with actual people."

He pulled his gloves out of one pocket, taking his time and fixing them on snugly.

[rude_not_ginger]

"Wasn't aware that was a specialty of yours," the Doctor said, raising a skeptical eyebrow. He looked back down at his gadgets, figuring they'd be a bit more bish-bosh at finding the things he needed to than any conversation might.

"Besides, people around this time are busy being with their families. Conversation's not the first thing on their minds. Probably not even the twenty-fifth thing on their minds."

[best_served_hot]

"Right, because the only reason I got so high up in politics was by smiling and waving and killing off all the competition systematically," the Master said with a roll of his eyes; even if it were partially true.

At least about the killing.

"There's some people that aren't home with their families. Carolers and people looking for donations. A few churches hold services if you want to go wave that thing around at the choir while they sing of the virgin birth," he told him, sarcasm lacing his tone at the last part.

[rude_not_ginger]

"Poor Mary," the Doctor said with a sympathetic sigh. "So misunderstood."

He shook his head, but pressed a few buttons on the device in his hand, then juggled it around to get his hot chocolate again. Delicious.

"Did you have a public Christmas?" he asked, sounding fairly unimpressed. "A big, present-laced publicity stunt?"

[best_served_hot]

The Master gave a derisive snort at that before rolling his eyes at his juggling act.

"We did, actually, very well put together, even though I wasn't the Prime Minister yet," he said, looking quite pleased.

[rude_not_ginger]

"Give anything interesting to your wife?"

No, there wasn't a hint of jealousy in his voice, why do you ask?"

[best_served_hot]

"Oh, we had a bit of a shopping spree actually. We went to Rome, I hadn't been there in ages," said the Master, with a wide, happy grin. He continued.

"But really, the best part was when we were still in London. We brought in some of the kids from the local orphanages and had Christmas. Not much of a fan of children, me, but it was interesting. As far as publicity stunts go, it was a slam dunk."

[rude_not_ginger]

The Doctor was surprised, but as far as the Master's actions, it was, no doubt, entirely a publicity stunt. Why else would he go out and help children? No reason the Doctor could think of.

"Haven't been to Rome since the fire," the Doctor said. "Should really go back, take in the sights." Also, not jealous.

[best_served_hot]

"We had a man dressed as Santa and little elves. Even reindeer! Little atmospheric excitation with some slight of hand and it was a ball," said the Master, extremely pleased with himself. "The voters were eating out of my palm."

He pursed his lips in thought a moment. "A Roman holiday? I don't plan on taking you on any shopping sprees. Except to possibly get you in something other than those ridiculous trainers of yours. Really, Doctor, they don't go with everything."

[rude_not_ginger]

"I like them," the Doctor said with a pout. "And they go with my outfit better than those overly shiny ones go with yours. And in this weather yours'll just end up scuffed up. Now are you going to help me or not?"

He nodded to the device in his hands, which was beeping out a line of psychic wavelengths. The Doctor refused to believe Christmas was only about atmospheric excitation and a few well placed Reindeer.

[best_served_hot]

"You are such a child sometimes," the Master stated with a sigh. "Criticizing my taste in clothing now, are we? I'm the only one of us that has ever had any sense in that respect."

He favored him with a pointed look. "No, I'm going to stand here and watch you flail about like an idiot."

Actually that didn't sound like such a terrible idea. "Which way, Rudolph."

[rude_not_ginger]

"You started it," the Doctor said, not at all improving his maturity level.

He held up the detector, and then pointed down an alleyway, the bright red light at the end of the device shining through the dark. "This way, Santa."

[best_served_hot]

The Master rewarded him with yet another roll of his eyes.

"I'm woefully unprepared for that role. Santa has a whip to keep the reindeer in line. You know that Rudolph has to be trouble with an ego like that after saving Christmas."

[rude_not_ginger]

The Doctor turned back to the Master. "Look, just because I took away your reindeer toys doesn't mean you have to bring it up. We've got something a bit more serious to deal with than---"

Beep.

The screen on the device flickered, and then went out. The Doctor gave it a slight smack, but it remained dead.

"That's not good. Something's psychically blocked the connection, keeping the device from finding its center."

[best_served_hot]

"But you have an annoying habit of taking them all away. There should be some sort of rule against that around Christmas. Serious? This is serious, us trudging through the snowy streets of London on a quest to find the true meaning of Chris-," the Master stopped as the device died.

"And that isn't suspicious at all."

[rude_not_ginger]

"Fine, I'll give you back the telly," the Doctor said, grumpily. "But you can't watch children's shows all day. You need some sort of intellectual stimulation---Oh, no. I sound like professor Borusa."

He sighed before pulling out the sonic and giving the small device a few prods.

"Like some sort of a shield over this area," he said. "Blocking out view of psychic phenomenon." The Doctor had a feeling this had very little to do with his desire to find the true meaning of Christmas.