Two Love Letters stories for Silvermoon07's birthday...
Title: Otherstide
Series | Arc: Love Letters | None
Age | Sequence: 21 | before the previous #1
Author: von_gelmini
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Theta/Koschei
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1276
Contains: fluff and soppiness
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who. I am not writing this for profit.
Otherstide
“Koschei?” Theta whispered. “Are you awake?”
Koschei groaned. If he had a credit for every time Theta woke him like that, he’d be richer than his mother.
Theta kissed his boyfriend lightly on the cheek, ignoring his closed eyes and attempts to pretend he was still sleeping. “What’d you get me for Otherstide?”
“Restraints and a gag so you’d let me sleep through the night just once,” Koschei grumbled.
Theta giggled. “That’d be a present for you, not for me.”
“You do this every year.”
“Yes.”
“And do I ever tell you?”
Theta pouted. “No. Not even when I tickle you.”
“Rassilon’s left tit, Theta, I’m trying to sleep. DON’T tickle me.”
“I wasn’t going to. Like I said, it didn’t work last year.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.”
Theta snickered. “What? You don’t want to remember how I tickled you so hard you pissed yourself?”
“Theta Sigma so help me…”
Theta rolled onto his belly and propped himself up, looking at Koschei, who was finally awake. “So?”
“Theta, only Time Tots get presents for Otherstide. We’ve graduated from Prydon last year and are at the Time Lord Academy now. Not exactly Time Tots anymore.”
Theta looked worried. Maybe Koschei was serious. “But I got you something for your birthday.”
Koschei put his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling with a smug grin. “Oh yes you did. And even wrapped it up with a beautiful blue bow.”
Theta laughed. “You seemed to like it at the time.”
“Maybe I’ll get you the same thing.”
“Koschei,” Theta drew out the name in a whine.
“Stop being a child, Theta,” Koschei said, annoyed. He rolled over, turning his back to his lover. “Go to sleep.”
Theta tried to snuggle against Koschei’s back, but the irritated grunt he got made him roll away too.
On Otherstide Eve, all Time Lords stay in their homes. Tradition says that it was to avoid the Wrath of Rassilon as the great Lord President hunted down the renegade Other. No one wanted to be in the mighty Founder’s way, so everyone stayed indoors. The next day the Other was captured and banished from the world, never to be seen again. There was great rejoicing in the Citadel, and this event was marked with parties and festivals ever after.
Throughout the day, many people wished Theta Happy Otherstide. Only Millennia and Drax remembered that the holiday was also his Nameday. Koschei’s attitude that morning had not improved much from the night before. He wished Theta a happy birthday with a kiss, but he wasn’t interested in going down to the fair at the park as they had for every year since they came to the Citadel. That was for children, he’d grumbled. Silly rides and games and hundreds of Time Tots running around high on too many sweets was not Koschei’s idea of a fun time. “Well it’s mine!” Theta had said and headed down to the festivities alone.
He tried to throw himself into the spirit of the holiday. And he succeeded for long moments. But every time something excited him or caught his eye, he’d turn to share the experience with Koschei, only to find his other hand empty and no one at his side.
Theta looked around for anyone he might know, but none of the First-Years were there, nor were any of the Deca. They were all trying to prove themselves to be too grown-up for this sort of fun. He noticed some older students in their robes, seeming to have a good time, but he didn’t know them and as a First-Year himself, he didn’t dare approach.
But he was not about to return to his room after only an hour away and let Koschei have the victory. This was his day and he was going to enjoy it. He pushed all the sour thoughts to the back of his mind and bounded off, finding some children to entertain with simple magic tricks and other games. By the time he next found himself thinking of his stubborn boyfriend, the suns were low in the sky. He found the nearest transmat point and took it back to the quad heading for the dorms.
“Koschei! You’ll never guess…” he started as he flung his door open wide. Their room was dark and Koschei wasn’t there. He switched on the light. A grey envelope was propped up against the lamp on his desk. He recognized Koschei’s writing of his name, always spelled out in formal Gallifreyan instead of written in Greek as was Theta’s own habit. He sat down and opened it.
Theta wiped the tears from his face and smiled. He opened the envelope to put the letter safely back inside and something caught a glint of light. He shook the envelope over his desk and an almost liquid golden chain fell from it. Picking it up, he held it to the light. On each link, almost microscopically, was engraved the intricate symbol that Koschei had drawn -- their names entwined with the eternal Seal of Rassilon.
Quickly Theta undressed and fastened the chain around his neck. Wearing nothing underneath, he put on his heavy formal outer robes and his trainers and ran to his lover, his forever Koschei.
Title: The Last of the Wood
Series | Arc: Love Letters | Eight, Time War
Age: I don’t know… however old Eight was during the Time War
Author: von_gelmini
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Eight/Jacobi!Master (young, looking much like he did in I, Claudius [but with better hair!])
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1009
Contains: soppy romance and angst
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who. I am not writing this for profit.
The Last of the Wood
The Doctor stopped the Master in the busy Citadel corridor. “Come with me a moment, Master.”
“Now is not a good time, Doctor. I’m on my way to meet with the Chancellery Guard about their stations onboard the ship.”
The Doctor put his hand on the other man’s arm. “It can wait a moment, cariad,” he whispered in a language they had not shared for centuries. A language that was now as dead as the people who once spoke it. Without the protection of the Dome, the Outsiders were amongst the first casualties of the induction barrier breech. But the Doctor didn’t want to think about that now. Things had been going so well between him and the Master since the High Council resurrected him. They no longer fought each other, but along side, comrades in arms in this terrible war.
The Master tried very hard not to smile at his adversary. “Very well, I can see you won’t be dissuaded.”
The Doctor didn’t try at all to hide his own smile as he dragged the Master down the passage to his TARDIS.
“Now tell me, Theete,” the Master said once the doors were shut. They’d taken to speaking tenderly when not observed. They’d taken to other tender things also of late. He slid his arms around the Doctor’s waist. “What is this all about?”
The Doctor tilted his head up and kissed his lover. Still took some getting used to, this regeneration being taller than he was. “Happy Birthday, Koschei.”
The Master laughed and rolled his eyes. “Bloody hell, Theta. We’re in the middle of a fucking war. Time and place.”
Not to be put off, he walked around to the pilot’s chair and handed the Master the wrapped box that sat there. “I got you a present,” he said with a grin.
“Where in Omega’s name did you… There isn’t a thing to spare in the Citadel. How did you find something?”
“Remember when you were on trial on Skaro?”
The Master began to carefully unseal the embossed silver-grey paper. “Hard to forget,” he said.
“The Time Lords took possession of your TARDIS after your imprisonment in that box. But as I was next-of-kin, they gave me your personal effects.”
The Master arched an eyebrow at his husband. “And you’re just now telling me? Why didn’t you give them back before now?”
The Doctor shrugged. “Forgot all about it, actually. Until I stumbled on the storeroom they were in the other day, and found that.”
“So what you’re saying is that you got me my own things as a birthday present?”
“Well when you put it like that…” the Doctor said, disappointed.
The Master shook his head with a smile. “I swear, Theete…” Finally the elaborate wrapping was off and inside was an ornately carved wooden box. Kaden wood. It was ancient, but it was one of the last Kaden wood artifacts left on Gallifrey, as the forests had burnt in the previous month’s attack. “It’s beautiful. Thank you. But this wasn’t mine.”
“No. Your box was broken. I found you a new one… mine. Only I took my things out and put yours in.”
What could the Doctor have stored in such a handsome box, the Master wondered. What thing, that had once belonged to him after all, had his lover decided warranted such a precious coffer? Slowly, drawing out the anticipation - because he was truly touched by the Doctor’s gesture - he opened the box.
He drew in a sharp breath when he saw what was inside. Nothing of value and yet priceless at the same time. “I thought…” his voice caught as he fought back tears. “I thought these were gone forever.” He reached his hand into the box and lightly touched the crisp vellum paper within.
Tears flowed freely down the Doctor’s face. “I didn’t know you’d kept them. All those years. All my letters. I never thought to look in your things… but I saw the broken box and… they were spilling out. I couldn’t help but look.”
Seeing his love, his Doctor, his precious Theta, crying was too much for the Master. He gently set the box down and gathered the other man into his arms. His own tears dampened the Doctor’s soft blond curls. “I never forgot, Theete. I just never thought we’d be together again.” He leaned back from the Doctor and brushed his hair out of his face. Whenever the man had long hair, it was forever getting in his eyes. The Master smiled at the memories. “But what did you have in the box before you gave it to me?” he asked, knowing the answer but still wanting to hear it.
“Your letters, Kosch. Every one.” The Doctor blinked and swallowed trying not to cry again. “I…” It was hard to say after so many centuries denying it. “I never stopped loving you. And now… now we have a chance, don’t you think?”
The Master nodded. “If we can survive this bloody war.”
The Doctor gave a sad smile. The risks they each took every day… “You’re Koschei the Deathless, remember?” He gave his lover a peck on the lips. “And we’re forever.”
“My Theta,” Koschei said, kissing the Doctor fully.
Breathless, they parted the kiss. “Yours…” the Doctor began, only to have his words taken away by the sound of an alarm loud enough to be heard through the TARDIS doors.
“Fuck, that’s me,” the Master said. Just before he took off out the door, he looked back at his beloved husband. “Tonight, Doctor. When I get back.”
And then he was gone, his present forgotten on the pilot’s seat. But that was okay; the Doctor would save it for him and give it to him when they met later that night. After the Cruciform’s test voyage. It wouldn’t take long, just orbit and then back down until the last of the supplies and ammunition could be loaded. Then they’d have a few days before the Master had to take her into battle and the Doctor had to manipulate the timestream to provide it a clear path to the center of the conflict. Then the war would be over. And then… then they could begin again.
Series | Arc: Love Letters | None
Age | Sequence: 21 | before the previous #1
Author: von_gelmini
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Theta/Koschei
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1276
Contains: fluff and soppiness
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who. I am not writing this for profit.
Otherstide
“Koschei?” Theta whispered. “Are you awake?”
Koschei groaned. If he had a credit for every time Theta woke him like that, he’d be richer than his mother.
Theta kissed his boyfriend lightly on the cheek, ignoring his closed eyes and attempts to pretend he was still sleeping. “What’d you get me for Otherstide?”
“Restraints and a gag so you’d let me sleep through the night just once,” Koschei grumbled.
Theta giggled. “That’d be a present for you, not for me.”
“You do this every year.”
“Yes.”
“And do I ever tell you?”
Theta pouted. “No. Not even when I tickle you.”
“Rassilon’s left tit, Theta, I’m trying to sleep. DON’T tickle me.”
“I wasn’t going to. Like I said, it didn’t work last year.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.”
Theta snickered. “What? You don’t want to remember how I tickled you so hard you pissed yourself?”
“Theta Sigma so help me…”
Theta rolled onto his belly and propped himself up, looking at Koschei, who was finally awake. “So?”
“Theta, only Time Tots get presents for Otherstide. We’ve graduated from Prydon last year and are at the Time Lord Academy now. Not exactly Time Tots anymore.”
Theta looked worried. Maybe Koschei was serious. “But I got you something for your birthday.”
Koschei put his arms behind his head and stared at the ceiling with a smug grin. “Oh yes you did. And even wrapped it up with a beautiful blue bow.”
Theta laughed. “You seemed to like it at the time.”
“Maybe I’ll get you the same thing.”
“Koschei,” Theta drew out the name in a whine.
“Stop being a child, Theta,” Koschei said, annoyed. He rolled over, turning his back to his lover. “Go to sleep.”
Theta tried to snuggle against Koschei’s back, but the irritated grunt he got made him roll away too.
On Otherstide Eve, all Time Lords stay in their homes. Tradition says that it was to avoid the Wrath of Rassilon as the great Lord President hunted down the renegade Other. No one wanted to be in the mighty Founder’s way, so everyone stayed indoors. The next day the Other was captured and banished from the world, never to be seen again. There was great rejoicing in the Citadel, and this event was marked with parties and festivals ever after.
Throughout the day, many people wished Theta Happy Otherstide. Only Millennia and Drax remembered that the holiday was also his Nameday. Koschei’s attitude that morning had not improved much from the night before. He wished Theta a happy birthday with a kiss, but he wasn’t interested in going down to the fair at the park as they had for every year since they came to the Citadel. That was for children, he’d grumbled. Silly rides and games and hundreds of Time Tots running around high on too many sweets was not Koschei’s idea of a fun time. “Well it’s mine!” Theta had said and headed down to the festivities alone.
He tried to throw himself into the spirit of the holiday. And he succeeded for long moments. But every time something excited him or caught his eye, he’d turn to share the experience with Koschei, only to find his other hand empty and no one at his side.
Theta looked around for anyone he might know, but none of the First-Years were there, nor were any of the Deca. They were all trying to prove themselves to be too grown-up for this sort of fun. He noticed some older students in their robes, seeming to have a good time, but he didn’t know them and as a First-Year himself, he didn’t dare approach.
But he was not about to return to his room after only an hour away and let Koschei have the victory. This was his day and he was going to enjoy it. He pushed all the sour thoughts to the back of his mind and bounded off, finding some children to entertain with simple magic tricks and other games. By the time he next found himself thinking of his stubborn boyfriend, the suns were low in the sky. He found the nearest transmat point and took it back to the quad heading for the dorms.
“Koschei! You’ll never guess…” he started as he flung his door open wide. Their room was dark and Koschei wasn’t there. He switched on the light. A grey envelope was propped up against the lamp on his desk. He recognized Koschei’s writing of his name, always spelled out in formal Gallifreyan instead of written in Greek as was Theta’s own habit. He sat down and opened it.
Theta wiped the tears from his face and smiled. He opened the envelope to put the letter safely back inside and something caught a glint of light. He shook the envelope over his desk and an almost liquid golden chain fell from it. Picking it up, he held it to the light. On each link, almost microscopically, was engraved the intricate symbol that Koschei had drawn -- their names entwined with the eternal Seal of Rassilon.
Quickly Theta undressed and fastened the chain around his neck. Wearing nothing underneath, he put on his heavy formal outer robes and his trainers and ran to his lover, his forever Koschei.
Title: The Last of the Wood
Series | Arc: Love Letters | Eight, Time War
Age: I don’t know… however old Eight was during the Time War
Author: von_gelmini
Fandom: Doctor Who
Characters: Eight/Jacobi!Master (young, looking much like he did in I, Claudius [but with better hair!])
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1009
Contains: soppy romance and angst
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who. I am not writing this for profit.
The Last of the Wood
The Doctor stopped the Master in the busy Citadel corridor. “Come with me a moment, Master.”
“Now is not a good time, Doctor. I’m on my way to meet with the Chancellery Guard about their stations onboard the ship.”
The Doctor put his hand on the other man’s arm. “It can wait a moment, cariad,” he whispered in a language they had not shared for centuries. A language that was now as dead as the people who once spoke it. Without the protection of the Dome, the Outsiders were amongst the first casualties of the induction barrier breech. But the Doctor didn’t want to think about that now. Things had been going so well between him and the Master since the High Council resurrected him. They no longer fought each other, but along side, comrades in arms in this terrible war.
The Master tried very hard not to smile at his adversary. “Very well, I can see you won’t be dissuaded.”
The Doctor didn’t try at all to hide his own smile as he dragged the Master down the passage to his TARDIS.
“Now tell me, Theete,” the Master said once the doors were shut. They’d taken to speaking tenderly when not observed. They’d taken to other tender things also of late. He slid his arms around the Doctor’s waist. “What is this all about?”
The Doctor tilted his head up and kissed his lover. Still took some getting used to, this regeneration being taller than he was. “Happy Birthday, Koschei.”
The Master laughed and rolled his eyes. “Bloody hell, Theta. We’re in the middle of a fucking war. Time and place.”
Not to be put off, he walked around to the pilot’s chair and handed the Master the wrapped box that sat there. “I got you a present,” he said with a grin.
“Where in Omega’s name did you… There isn’t a thing to spare in the Citadel. How did you find something?”
“Remember when you were on trial on Skaro?”
The Master began to carefully unseal the embossed silver-grey paper. “Hard to forget,” he said.
“The Time Lords took possession of your TARDIS after your imprisonment in that box. But as I was next-of-kin, they gave me your personal effects.”
The Master arched an eyebrow at his husband. “And you’re just now telling me? Why didn’t you give them back before now?”
The Doctor shrugged. “Forgot all about it, actually. Until I stumbled on the storeroom they were in the other day, and found that.”
“So what you’re saying is that you got me my own things as a birthday present?”
“Well when you put it like that…” the Doctor said, disappointed.
The Master shook his head with a smile. “I swear, Theete…” Finally the elaborate wrapping was off and inside was an ornately carved wooden box. Kaden wood. It was ancient, but it was one of the last Kaden wood artifacts left on Gallifrey, as the forests had burnt in the previous month’s attack. “It’s beautiful. Thank you. But this wasn’t mine.”
“No. Your box was broken. I found you a new one… mine. Only I took my things out and put yours in.”
What could the Doctor have stored in such a handsome box, the Master wondered. What thing, that had once belonged to him after all, had his lover decided warranted such a precious coffer? Slowly, drawing out the anticipation - because he was truly touched by the Doctor’s gesture - he opened the box.
He drew in a sharp breath when he saw what was inside. Nothing of value and yet priceless at the same time. “I thought…” his voice caught as he fought back tears. “I thought these were gone forever.” He reached his hand into the box and lightly touched the crisp vellum paper within.
Tears flowed freely down the Doctor’s face. “I didn’t know you’d kept them. All those years. All my letters. I never thought to look in your things… but I saw the broken box and… they were spilling out. I couldn’t help but look.”
Seeing his love, his Doctor, his precious Theta, crying was too much for the Master. He gently set the box down and gathered the other man into his arms. His own tears dampened the Doctor’s soft blond curls. “I never forgot, Theete. I just never thought we’d be together again.” He leaned back from the Doctor and brushed his hair out of his face. Whenever the man had long hair, it was forever getting in his eyes. The Master smiled at the memories. “But what did you have in the box before you gave it to me?” he asked, knowing the answer but still wanting to hear it.
“Your letters, Kosch. Every one.” The Doctor blinked and swallowed trying not to cry again. “I…” It was hard to say after so many centuries denying it. “I never stopped loving you. And now… now we have a chance, don’t you think?”
The Master nodded. “If we can survive this bloody war.”
The Doctor gave a sad smile. The risks they each took every day… “You’re Koschei the Deathless, remember?” He gave his lover a peck on the lips. “And we’re forever.”
“My Theta,” Koschei said, kissing the Doctor fully.
Breathless, they parted the kiss. “Yours…” the Doctor began, only to have his words taken away by the sound of an alarm loud enough to be heard through the TARDIS doors.
“Fuck, that’s me,” the Master said. Just before he took off out the door, he looked back at his beloved husband. “Tonight, Doctor. When I get back.”
And then he was gone, his present forgotten on the pilot’s seat. But that was okay; the Doctor would save it for him and give it to him when they met later that night. After the Cruciform’s test voyage. It wouldn’t take long, just orbit and then back down until the last of the supplies and ammunition could be loaded. Then they’d have a few days before the Master had to take her into battle and the Doctor had to manipulate the timestream to provide it a clear path to the center of the conflict. Then the war would be over. And then… then they could begin again.