Tap the Rhythm

[vail_kagami]

Rating: R
Prompt:  #034 - Too Much
Claim: The Time War
Table: Here
Spoilers: Season 3 Finale
Warning: violence, mention of torture and rape
Characters/Pairing: Simm!Master/Doctor (10), (Jack/Doctor)
Summary: The Master's drums have always been with him - or haven't they? Close to the end of the year that never was he begins to wonder.

Comments

[vail_kagami]

Thank you! It makes sense that the Master would feel threatened by Jack's existance. He doesn't like it if someone's important to the Doctor but can tollerate it if they're gone soon after - which Jack won't.

By the way, how's your challenge-fic doing?

[vail_kagami]

Fantastic! I'll go read now!

[nightrider101]

This was great! You captured how insane the Master is - and also that he wants to stay that way. I love the weird relationship between the three characters.

A few typos you might want to fix:

The Master’s touch is light so he doesn’t break any rips. Ribs? There was another one, but I can't find it now. Hopefully it was my own error.

I loved this line:

“I’d rather sleep in the cage.” The Doctor’s voice is cold - he means it. The Master frowns in irritation, takes the laser screwdriver again and aims.

That gave me chills! I loved the Doctor in this.

I also love the reason why Jack left the Doctor and how that was part of the Master's plan. He wanted the Doctor to be alone! What an evil genius!

Thank you for sharing. :)

Even though it was the Master, I still liked the cuddles. Yes, I'm that big of a sap!

Edited to add: It rises his curiosity but he doesn’t like it. Raises?

[x_losfic]

I love the treatment of the drums in this, accounting for the sudden appearance of them without it seeming at all like a clumsy retcon.

Things like this "If he looks back, beyond the drumbeat painted over his past, the Master remembers a man who’d never risk his life actively fighting in a war. Someone for whom violence was a means to an end, not the end in itself." and this "It’s surprisingly easy to leave, because he has to do something and it won’t let him rest. This aren’t the drums either, it’s just him. A part of his nature that has always been there." threaded through are lovely characterization, and effective!

This concept: "“I’m the only constant in his life!”" is, naturally, pure GoodStuff.

I think the end section is my favorite though, with its substantive emotional warp and weft.

Very rich fic!

(Not to be a bitch, but there were a few distracting typos, just fyi.)

[vail_kagami]

Thanks for the review!
I'm always looking for an way to fit the Drums of Doom into canon without completely ignoring everything broadcast before 2005. Watching The Sound of Drums I went "WTF?!" a few times - considering the classic series them make little sense.

[huggabledog]

Ah, that was a good read. Loved the portrayal of The Master's insanity combined with his emotional bond to The Doctor. He'll go so far but the thought of losing his long-time rival is as hard on him as losing the Master is on The Doctor. Jealous of Jack? Yes that's believable, though he's not a Time Lord and doesn't have the history on Gallifrey. I liked in particular the Master drugging the drink so that the Doc would sleep, and the Master holding him while he's unconscious and won't see his dependency. The Doctor was written well - strong of character, loathing what The Master is doing and has become, yet still offering a chance to help. Really enjoyed this, thanks.

[vail_kagami]

Thank you! I always try to write the Doctor as a strong character, even though it's not always easy with the contents of my stories.

[petit_fox]

Wow, die Handlung hat mich richtig beeindruckt.
Es war interessant den Master auch einmal aus einem anderen Blickwinkel zu sehen, ncith einfach nur als total Wahnsinnigen, sondern diese Hin- und Hergerissenheit. Fand seine Gedanken und Erinnerungen bezüglich Gallifrey sehr schön.
Ehrlich, deine Geschichte als background für "The Last of the Timelords" hätte die Folge mit all ihren Charakteren noch verständlicher gemacht :D
Das Dreiergespann Master/Doctor/Jack war fantastisch beschrieben. Ganz fies die Anweisung des Masters an Jack, den Doctor nach der ganzen Sache in Ruhe zu lassen!
ARG! Ich weiß noch genau wie ich bei de rFolge dasaß und dachte, "du idiot!jetzt geh shcon mit ihm!!!!!!!"
Deine Geschichte würde einiges erklären ^^
Sonst, schöner Doctor!angst, bin voll und ganz befriedigt :)

[vail_kagami]

Danke!
Ich gabe zu ich bin immer auf der Suche nach anderen Erklärungen für Jacks Abschied als "Torchwood ist besser als der Doctor", oder gar "Ianto/Gwen ist besser als der Doctor."
Nicht in meinem Universum!

[petit_fox]

Ich verstehe dich, und bin ganz überzeugt dass deine Version die einzig wahre ist*g*
Nichts ist besser als ein Trip mit dem Doc, Jack DARF einfahc keine andere Wahl gehabt haben als zu bleiben.