[location: central mansion lobby]

[andvainglorious]

He had, for all intents and purposes, been quite content (despite the relatively unexpected boredom that had resulted after he'd taken his position as lord and master of Earth) and he'd just been informed that Martha Jones' whereabouts had been found: the Doctor would be able to watch her die in front of his own eyes, powerless to help

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[likestray_dogs]

If Martha Jones had known that leaving the hospital meant that she would find the Master standing in the middle of the hotel lobby, she would have stayed at work.

It wasn't even him that gave him away. She had been fiddling with her phone when she came in, not looking at where she was going and just making a beeline for the elevator to head back to her room, but it was the drumming that gave him away. She'd know that specific set of beats anywhere, and it makes her freeze in her tracks. She was just starting to think that she could relax here. That she wouldn't have to worry about him coming here to get to her, or to anyone for that matter. But then again, she should have known better than to get her hopes up too far. No matter what Jack had said about how they had one

[andvainglorious]

Unusual situation in mind (although it wasn't, to be fair, the first time he'd found himself somewhere he hadn't expected without the use of a TARDIS), he hadn't expected to hear that voice. Rocking on his soles for a moment, he turned to greet Martha with a wide smile.

"Me. And you! Isn't it lovely? And to think that here I was, believing that something had gone terribly wrong somewhere and I wasn't going to find you after all. The Doctor misses his beloved pet and what kind of a person would I be to keep you two separated?" He paused, taking a couple of steps towards her. "It's a sad tale: pet runs off, leaving their owner alone for a whole year, as they have fun trekking across the globe on an ill-advised gap year whilst no-one else takes the time out to phone the hotline on the 'missing' posters."

He stopped speaking for a moment, watching her expectantly. "But we're in a bit of a pickle now. This isn't where or even when you're supposed to be. So why don't we start from the beginning? And I promise I'll be a very good boy and

[likestray_dogs]

Martha would have taken all too much pleasure in informing the Master of just what exactly it was that he had walked into. A floating city of gold that he couldn't escape, not unless the city wanted to let him go. Oh, she was sure that he would be miserable here, and she would have loved to revel in it, to watch the realization cross his face that there was no way out for him, and as far as this world was concerned, he was nothing more than a toy for them to play with

[andvainglorious]

He laughed; he couldn't say that her reaction wasn't entertaining. He didn't care for her in any sense beyond the fact that she was the Doctor's companion and that, therefore, she was an easy way to get to the Doctor -- and, of course, there was the slight inconvenience of the fact that she'd undoubtedly oppose anything and everything that he might choose to do.

He pressed his lips together and cast her a look of mock pity. "Oh, I'm sorry. Was that a little too much? A year, Martha Jones, and you've hardly changed at all. I thought traversing the planet was meant to help a person grow." As she started to walk away from him, he spoke again. "I'm sure that would be far more discomforting if I weren't capable of working it out. As it is, you just look like a petulant child."

"But it's curious, isn't it? You're here, I'm here and him. Oh, he did tell you about our wonderful little gift, didn't he? How we know whenever another Time Lord is around and, here's the best bit, we know who it is regardless of regeneration! So, run along. I'm

[donttouchthebb]

The Doctor stopped in the middle of the sidewalk outside the mansion. Not that he was there all the time, he had his ship, that was good enough for him. It wasn't like he slept much either! But, that familiar tingle that ran through his spine and stopped at the back of his brain was enough to nearly send him over in shock.

No, how was that possible? The Time Lords were all dead. Every last one of them. Gone in the war - except for him.

He raced up to the door and threw it open, stopping straight in the doorway, arms filled with gadgets and the sort. His eyes fixed on the man in the suit. Oh, it wasn't any Time Lord. It was him.

How the hell had he survived? Well, he had regenerated that much was obvious. Then again so had the Doctor.

[andvainglorious]

The Master had been set on making his way out of the lobby when he'd noticed it, that feeling, that sense. The one that told him that another Time Lord was near-by. It didn't make sense; they were dead, all of them, and Gallifrey was gone. The Doctor was somewhere above the Earth, except--

When the doors opened and he noticed the man with ears stood there, it took him a moment. Expression flickering between irritation and surprise, he glanced up at the ceiling before speaking.

"Doctor. I'd say this is a pleasant surprise, but it's not, not really. Although--." He gave the Doctor a once over. Generally speaking, the Master liked to think that he knew all of the Doctor's regenerations, but this wasn't one that he'd met. Having access to UNIT's records meant he'd seen reports and photos with regards to this one's existence, of course, but that was slightly different

[donttouchthebb]

Everyone was always on about the ears! Honestly, they weren't that big, were they? Not that it mattered. It was the face he was stuck with and they'd just have to learn to live with the big eared Doctor. Not that it was a title he wanted to be known for, but that was what it was.

He quickly crossed the room to stand in front of him. Younger, just about as annoying, and probably twice as clever. His work was going to be cut out for him on this. As if he didn't have enough problems to worry about.

"Your relative present, wonder how that correlates to the rest of the group." the Doctor said with a steel tone. "How the hell did you survive the Time War? They're all dead! I suppose you buggered off like you always do. Thought that it might of changed for you."

((ooc: Perfectly reasonable~ I like!))

[andvainglorious]

Entirely ignoring -- or it might be more accurate to say, due in part to the Doctor's tone, the Master responded quite cheerfully.

"Still collecting pets, then. Just think, in a few more centuries they'll be able to put out a game, just for you: gotta catch 'em all. I bet it'll sell well, if not just for those left behind wanting to see how their peers compare. Although, I think Pokémon might have the market cornered on the cute aspect. How many are here? What do you think, will I be able to get a sneak preview? As a beta tester, perhaps."

Tutting lightly, he shot the Doctor a look of mock admonishment. "Change, Doctor, is so hard to come by. I'd've thought you'd know that by now. Of course, you flip-flop quite well. Allowing Gallifrey to burn-- why, I'd almost have said you surprised me, except it's not the first time, is it? Self-righteous piousness doesn't work very well when it's coming from someone with that on their conscience. As for meThe Master shrugged, holding his hands out for a moment. "We both know that the universe

[graygirlpip]

"You're new."

Chiana had noticed him from across the lobby, had listened as the receptionist filled him in on their situation, and had decided that it was only polite to say hello. Oh, but it didn't hurt that he wasn't bad to look at. But then again, it didn't take much for her standards to be met. She was quick in crossing the lobby, and quicker to put on a big smile when she reached him.

"You got a name?"

[andvainglorious]

The Master had paid very little attention to the others present in the lobby, preferring instead to focus on more pressing matters. It was difficult, however, to not notice when he was being spoken to, particularly when it was an individual who didn't quite tick all the boxes for 'standard human'.

"Well noticed," he answered dryly, pausing momentarily to shoot her a slightly disbelieving look. "I'd be in a bit of difficulty if I didn't have a name." Another pause. "Harold Saxon." It would do for the time being, until he became more settled.

[graygirlpip]

"Most people get by without one when they need to. Helps if you need to disappear." She said it matter of factly, a knowing sort of statement. With a shrug of her shoulders, Chiana didn't seem bothered by his attitude. "Saxon, huh?" She gave him a full once over, a smirk on her face. "You're not like the others. You don't look too surprised by me. You met a Nebari before?" She tilted her head hard to the right, curious if he'd give the answer she wanted to hear. She wasn't like her people, after all. In fact, she was on the run from them. The last thing she needed was for some frelling nobody to sell her out.